Paris (AFP)

Extension of the obligation of withdrawal in 24 hours to the content apologizing for terrorism, new offense of refusal of withdrawal: the MPs have muscled Wednesday in committee the proposed law LREM against hate online.

During the examination of the text of Laetitia Avia (LREM) in the Law Commission, a series of amendments to Article 1 concerning the obligation to remove hate content online was adopted.

The proposal to combat cyber hate initially targeted any content that included "incitement to hatred or insult on the grounds of race, religion, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation or disability. ".

At the initiative of the elected Paris, also rapporteur, deputies included the provocation to terrorism or its apology in content whose withdrawal may be required platforms online in 24 hours.

It will also be concerned with content that clearly contravenes several offenses such as apology for war crimes, crimes against humanity, but also harassment, procuring or "fixing, recording or transmission of the image or the pornographic representation of a minor for dissemination ".

Through other LREM amendments, MEPs have also targeted content that "undermines the dignity of the human person", those inciting "violence or discrimination" or those targeting nationality.

The field has also been extended to the initiative of elected socialists to incitement to hatred and insults uttered because of "origin".

At Ms Avia's initiative, MEPs also extended the opt-out requirement to search engines.

Another amendment by the rapporteur creates a new specific offense of refusing the withdrawal or dereference of hate content which will be punishable by a fine and a year's imprisonment.

An amendment UDI and independent educational aims provided that in case of withdrawal of illegal content, operators substitute a message indicating that it was removed.

Operators must also inform the authors of the report of a disputed content, but also the author of the hateful content of the follow-up given to the report.

MEPs also predicted that any abusive reports by users of online platforms will be punishable by one year's imprisonment and a 15,000 euro fine.

Before completing the text, MEPs added provisions for platforms that allow the registration of minors under 15 years of age. They will have to issue to them, as well as to their parents, an awareness of the civic use of their service and information on the legal risks in case of dissemination of hate content.

They also plan to raise students' awareness of these topics and to strengthen teacher training in this area.

The procedure followed by the CSA before the imposition of a financial penalty in the event of an operator's breach of its obligations was also specified. The sanction can reach 4% of the global annual turnover.

The law, which the head of state confirmed in February after a wave of anti-Semitic acts, will be on the agenda in the hemicycle from 3 July.

? 2019 AFP