Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Journalistes Autorisé

The French Constitutional Council has approved a law that criminalizes the filming or broadcasting of acts of violence by people other than professional journalists. The law could lead to the imprisonment of eyewitnesses who film acts of police violence, or operators of Web sites publishing the images, one French civil liberties group warned on Tuesday.

"Authorized journalists" are the same the world over, it would seem...

I can't wait to see them try and enforce this one.

2 comments:

me said...

The council chose an unfortunate anniversary to publish its decision approving the law, which came exactly 16 years after Los Angeles police officers beating Rodney King were filmed by amateur videographer George Holliday on the night of March 3, 1991. The officers’ acquittal at the end on April 29, 1992 sparked riots in Los Angeles.

It would seem they knew what they were doing. We are witnessing a preemptive surrender. Yes! Even before someone might record an act of jihad that inspires violence in the french people, they have surrendered to the muslim hoards that ran wild last year.

Anonymous said...

It's not just France. There are places here where it is illegal to videotape police out in public serving the public????, supposedly doing no wrong.

Of course, without a film or tape of any wrongdoing denial is all the cover they need.

However, I would tape if the opportunity presented, the violation of the 1st amendment be damned, because to protect my rights under the first, I have the second. And Damn any that approach that one too.