It started with a suspicious message. Now the whole country knows this slogan.

Students in France are rallying around the phrase "Bismillah, c'est les ténèbres," which combines Arabic and French to symbolize a generational divide. This slogan emerged amid suspicions of police infiltration in protest groups, with young people mocking attempts to mimic their language. The phrase gained traction through a viral screenshot of a message that seemed to imitate youth slang. French authorities acknowledged that officers might use false identities online to engage with suspected organizers of illegal activities. The protests, initially sparked by educational grievances, have expanded into a nationwide movement against rising living costs, leading to clashes and unrest in major cities.