"Global security" law: what does the article say about the dissemination of images of police officers?

DECRYPTION

Municipal police, private security, "war of images": the National Assembly on Tuesday began examining a panel of security measures carried by the majority.

At the center of the controversy is article 24 on the supervision of the dissemination of the image of police and gendarmes.

This proposal by deputies Jean-Michel Fauvergue and Alice Thourot on "global security" makes the defenders of public freedoms jump.

What does the controversial article really say? 

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Let's start with the exact content of article 24-1 of this bill, which is six lines long.

He proposes to punish one year in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros for disseminating "the image of the face or any other element of identification" of a police officer or gendarme in operation, when this has for aim to "undermine his physical or mental integrity".

The registration number not concerned

Clearly, it is only the will to harm that this bill targets.

She therefore wishes to prevent the digital lynching of a police officer or gendarme, photo in support, as the Copwatch site did, for example.

This site which was banned by justice in 2011.

Contrary to what some detractors want to believe, this text would not prohibit filming the police.

Nor would it prevent the broadcasting of scenes of violent intervention or other police violence.

Contrary to what Gerald Darmanin wishes and sometimes claims, the text does not in any way provide for making the blurring of images of police officers or gendarmes compulsory.

This is also what the police unions wanted.

The restriction also does not apply to the registration number, known as "RIO" - that a police or gendarme must wear during intervention.

"Serious breach" of press rights

As for the officials who are victims of threats, followed out of the police station, flushed out on social networks, this is a serious and tangible reality, but article 24 of the proposed law on "global security" does not exist. will not change anything.

The measure makes the representatives of journalists and the defenders of public freedoms jump, who denounce "a serious violation" of press rights.

Rapporteurs from the UN Human Rights Council have also recently feared "major attacks" on "fundamental freedoms".

Unions and associations of journalists gathered on Tuesday, near the Palais Bourbon and in the regions.