"Global security" law in France: article 24 debated in the Assembly and criticized in the street
Hundreds of demonstrations marched in Paris against the bill on "global security" on November 17, 2020. AP Photo / Michel Euler
Text by: RFI Follow
5 mins
The National Assembly began this Tuesday, November 17 the examination of a bill on "global security" which shakes the hemicycle.
In particular, one of its articles which modifies the law on the press of 1881: it provides for sanctioning with one year in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros those who disseminate the identity or the face of police officers with the intention to harm them.
It is a proposed law "liberticide", which calls into question the freedom of expression and hinders the work of journalists, criticizes many organizations, the defender of rights and even the UN human rights council .
Faced with the outcry, the walking deputies seek to reassure.
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This article 24 is an attack on the freedom to inform, a blank check issued to the police to prohibit the dissemination of images,
denounces rebellious deputy Matilde Panaud, at the microphone of
Anthony Lattier,
of the France service of RFI.
“
It's completely impractical.
We are in a vacuum, all legal experts say so.
In fact, what will happen is the policeman will come and say, "It is illegal to film me."
So maybe you will win in court a little later, but then you will not be able to film these images.
"
A caricatural vision, one replies from La République en Marche.
The co-rapporteur of the text Alice Thourot demines: filming the police will always be possible.
“
This article aims to punish the grazing of our police on social networks, with messages of hatred, calls for reprisals, calls for violence.
This means that tomorrow, like today, you will be able to film, journalists but also citizens, in the same way.
"
Support from the right
The marchers will be able to count on the support of the right.
The
MP Republicans Damien Abad
wants to protect the police: "
Are we may accept in France today we have women police who can not bring their child in a carousel, which can not not go the local fair because they have been recognized on the Internet and on social networks with a police uniform and therefore some want to hide them.
"
But proof that the criticisms are strong, including internally, the marchers say they are ready to improve the text in order to remove "
all the ambiguities
", explains the Chairman of the group Christophe Castaner.
►
To listen: Can we film the police?
Chauffourées in Paris
Violent incidents broke out this Tuesday evening in Paris between several hundred people and the police at the end of a rally near the National Assembly to denounce this proposed law "
global security
".
This procession of demonstrators comprising "yellow vests", activists of left-wing organizations, high school students and students remained blocked by the police for about two hours on the Boulevard Saint-Germain where the tension rose with the law enforcement.
The police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, among whom were many young people who destroyed street furniture, according to AFP.
Around 9:30 p.m., the last demonstrators had left the vicinity of the National Assembly and calm had returned, said the Prefecture of Police.
Coverage of police violence hampered, according to associations
Hundreds of people had also gathered in the middle of the afternoon at the call in particular of unions of journalists and associations of defense of human rights to protest against the proposed law "global security" which would prevent according to them journalists and citizens to film the police during the demonstrations.
Journalists' unions who called for this rally alongside the Human Rights League, Amnesty International and other organizations such as Reporters Without Borders, believe that it amounts to banning journalists and citizens from filming the police in action and would prevent, for example, documenting police violence.
Gatherings also took place in several provincial towns.
►
To listen:
Is the global security law a threat to the freedom to inform?
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Can we film the police?
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Damien Abad, RFI morning guest
The debate of the day
Is the global security law a threat to the freedom to inform?