France wants to prevent police filming up to 45 thousand euros in fines for those who share images

A bill proposed by the French government, if approved will prohibit the sharing of images of police officers doing their jobs. According to the Elysée, the measure, which is part of a draft law on security is a necessary step to protect the police from violent acts. But the text has already been harshly criticized by civil liberties associations and press freedom advocates.

Fines and imprisonment for offenders

The bill, specifically prohibits disseminating by any means for the purpose or damaging their physical or psychological integrity, the facial image or any other identifying element of each officer of the national police or member of the national gendarmerie when he is engaged in a police operation. The penalty for offenders varies from fines of up to 45 thousand euros to one year of imprisonment.

Criticism from associations and the press

The associations and authorities in defense of civil liberties have already attacked the text which according to the most critics could entail considerable risks for freedom of information. The publication of images relating to police interventions is legitimate and necessary for a functioning democracy, said Claire Hédon human rights ombudsman. Whether they are filmed by journalists with or without card, citizens, human rights activists, the same videos that denounce the violence committed by members of the security forces have actually allowed the topic to appear in the democratic debate, they note in a joint letter from journalists from the AFP agency, the three main national newspapers and many other French media.

Blurring the faces of the agents

The government responded to allegations that the bill poses a threat to press freedom in the words of Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, who specified that the measures would not apply to journalists. Anyone who witnesses an episode that falls under the criminal code will have the right to film it and broadcast it to the prosecutor, but whoever wants to share it widely on the Internet will have to blur the faces of the policemen and gendarmes, Darmanin told France Info radio. MPs supporting the bill stressed that the text is intended to cover only harmful actions and not to prevent people from reporting police irregularities. Justifications that did not convince the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations, which warned France that the bill could lead to significant violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms,