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- guillermox, on 10/12/2007, -11/+63Europeans enjoy far less civil liberties than Americans do (this has been the case for a very long time) but for some reason, American liberals have always thought that Europeans were far more enlightnened and progressive than us here darn stupid ole American hicks.
- twertyto, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14Very true. France does not have a free press and hasn't for some time. Currently in order to be a journalist in France you must be state approved.
@spudz
Not totally accurate for example if you film some police brutality and your not a journalist then you can't report it publicly. - workingformydad, on 10/12/2007, -6/+16No, NOT yawn. This is NOT just about happy slapping or bumfights - that's the way they sell it to the public and press so that they can gradually (or not so gradually) exercise more control on who can film what, when. Once accreditation becomes a legal requirement for reporting, then they squeeze people by threatening to strip them of their accreditation if they don't play ball. Anybody filming a cop beating up a suspect could be convicted, and as the article notes, this law was announced on the anniversary of the Rodney King attack. Reminds me of when the French court censored Yahoo back in 2000. Idiots. I fear we in the UK are next for this.
- Asianwaste, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12Koranimals.... That's pretty ***** bigoted... but I've never heard that one before. Alright I'm guilty. I found it funny.
- JohnGalt01, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9How can socialism go right exactly?????
- RadiantBeing, on 10/12/2007, -5/+11Excellent point. Is you from Paris?
"Truth is both places is full of ignorants." - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -6/+11France is the most similar form of government to that of the US. Anything that happens to France should scare the pants off of Americans. It wouldn't surprise me to see something like this pass in the US. I mean look at this story..its being run by a few off beat papers including MACWORLD! You think maybe the Times would pick up on it? Good job IDG for keeping it real.!
- schniff, on 10/12/2007, -5/+10We are doing the same thing here in the states if not worse. "Who ever controls the media, controls the mind." Why wouldn't it be an advantage for any government to try and control media. I am not saying it is right, but lets face it governments do this sort of ***** all the time and for some reason people put up with it for some reason beyond my mental capacity. Fear maybe? Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, Pol Pot, Mao Ze-Dong, Menghistu all had similar policies. History is doomed to repeat itself but every time it does the weapons get better.
This is an old digg story. Check it out.
http://www.latinaviva.com/50226711/bloggers_should_have_rights_as_journalists.php - Taorluath, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6God, I know. It's so retarded. Stuff happens and then people get stupidly scared by it and they take unecessary measures against it and it limits the freedom of the people. The world is becoming more Orwellian as we speak.
- GrideEdub, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9This is what can come about from socialism gone wrong.
- uttles, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8"ahead" as in spending all of your citizens' money on illegal muslim immigrants so they can out breed you and institute Sharia law? Nice "progress" there, taking your country back to the stone ages.
- Aliasing, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't just this make it illegal to film each other beating people up and putting it on YouTube? Didn't Australia do the same thing?
- Asianwaste, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Really? I've heard some things about Netherlands and Sweden.
- Spudz, on 10/12/2007, -12/+16Slightly inaccurate headline ("Citizen Journalists"). Apparently this law only applies to violent acts filmed for *fun*, such as those bullies might post on YouTube for bragging rights.
Still stupid, given that the filming of the act is usually what gets these idiots caught. - hokkos, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Some comment form slashdot :
Here is the actual text:
" Section 4 bis
Dispositions générales
Art. 222-43-2. - Est constitutif d'un acte de complicité des atteintes volontaires à l'intégrité de la personne prévues par les articles 222-1 à 222-14-1 et 222-23 à 222-31 et est puni des peines prévues par ces articles le fait d'enregistrer sciemment par quelque moyen que ce soit, sur tout support que ce soit, des images relatives à la commission de ces infractions.
Le fait de diffuser l'enregistrement de telles images est puni de cinq ans d'emprisonnement et 75 000 d'amende.
Le présent article n'est pas applicable lorsque l'enregistrement ou la diffusion résulte de l'exercice normal d'une profession ayant pour objet d'informer le public ou est réalisé afin de servir de preuve en justice. ""
This translates to (there are no doubt a few approximations in the terms, I'm no lawyer, but the translation is otherwise valid):
" Is considered an accomplice act to voluntary assault of a person's integrity as specified in articles 222-1 to 222-14-1 and 222-23 to 222-31, and is punished with the sentences specified in these articles, the act of knowingly recording, using any means, under any format, images relating to comitting these offenses.
The act of publishing recordings of such images is punished by five years imprisonment and a 75,000 fine.
The present article does not apply when the recording or publishing is a result of the normal activity of a profession which invovles informing the public or is done to serve as proof in court."
So filming your local police officers beating people up remains legal, as it can be used as proof in court. Filming any scene of violence where you're not an accomplice remains legal, as it can always be used in court... I'm not saying this law is good. It's just far from what the english web seems to be making it out to be. - PanteroBlanco, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4If you want to get rid of "happy slapping", it makes more sense to allow people to effectively defend themselves and stop protecting those who assault them. Increasing the penalty for assault would make sense.
I doubt this law was intended to curb happy slapping, even if that's what the French government is claiming. It's like trying to cut down on murder by making it illegal to raise a fist. - sfacets, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4To the first commentator: You obviously haven't been through American Airport security before.
- Meowbiusfox, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3This ban was enacted to protect the ordinary French citizen,
It's literally impossible to film civil unrest whilst trying to smoke and
eat a croissant,there's a risk of injury! - 1337Einstein, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4HUZZAH! Remember, reduced standards are better for EVERYONE'S image.
- chryso, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I am not French, and I don't know anything about this law (or what it really means for French journalism). However, the argument I am seeing is that it is just about a particular type of crime (i.e. "happy slapping"), and not about eroding civil liberties.
But isn't that how civil liberties are eroded in the first place? Through the passing of countless laws that all modify a small part of the grand scheme? Although it is a pretty extreme example, I would liken those who claim this is nothing more than a single law to those who claim the PATRIOT act only hurts terrorists.
It is said that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. But again, it may apply very little to this story, I will leave it to the French to decide. - uttles, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5This is the kind of thing you have to look out for when you read ***** reports like "study finds cases of violence are far less common in France than in the US."
Then you find out that their source of information is bystander video clips. Oops, not exactly a level playing field huh?
I'm not saying such a report is real, I'm saying that statistical ***** ups like that happen all the time, so you can't believe everything you read. - CheezIt9109, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Why don't they do something useful, like outlawing the sensationalizing of stupid ***** like the death of some imbecilic blond?
- har0ld, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2It really sucks. But as for other dumb laws our government have voted, we will do what we are best known at: ignore the laws and do what we want.
Still, damn. - sweintraub, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2hilarious. Why not just go to Odebi http://www.odebi.org .
Its in Frech so you can read and understand it.
Also why not argue the points instead of proliferating French stereotypes - quaunaut, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Jesus, do people even pay attention to the page that specifically points out a dozen other pages that might be about the same thing?
I'm usually not one to point out duplicate, but comon. Now its just getting bad. - JudgeDreddEsq, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Today, they sign a bill into law, and everyone cheers because it is aimed at "happy slapping". Tomorrow, they tweak it a little.
- Shroomsoup, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Thank you for that chryso, I was thinking along the same lines. I am French first of all, and this is just a result of French politics, Nicolas Sarkozy is notorious for his strictness and want of civil order, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Leave the French politics to the French, it isn't the US that's going to make us change to a sixth republic.
It sickens me however to see how people using racist epithets, slander, and stereotypes are dugg up... - ParisSeth, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.odebi.org%2Fnew2%2F
- twertyto, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@pikebishop
You're right I haven't visited France. I've only been told this by colleagues of mine who have lived in France for several years. They attest that exact opposite of what you are saying is true. Furthermore if you have a problem posting comments in a mature and civil manner please refrain from doing so in the future. - damienkrypt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Why is it that when I successfully login from the article I want to comment on, Digg sends me back to the front page? That's stupid (possibly on my part) . . . but not as stupid as any idea that insinuates that America has less freedom than France, in any aspect of anything. That's just nonsense . . . France is socialist/communist state (many actual elected Communists hold power) . . . which explains why their economy is being run into the ground and why they ungratefully hate capitalist America, which is more successful than them at just about everything, except maybe healthy eating & living healthy lifestyles. We pretty much suck at that.
- hokkos, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Some comment form slashdot :
If France doesn't value freedom of speech as much as America, then tell my why the Annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index for 2006 rated America behind France in terms of freedom of the press?
Source: http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=639 - cmadach, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I love how every idiot with a $300 miniDV camera suddenly becomes a Citizen Journalist. The law isn't about freedom of press, it's about preventing morons from videotaping other morons beating on eachother. Really, this headline is so skewed that it would make Fox News blush. But anything to get dugg, right?
- jakilevy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1did you forget about joseph wilson and scooter libby? that story was all about freedom of the press and closing doors for reporters. yes, there are many more angles to the story than just "the media" but the entire debacle severely limited the possibilities for another story like that to come out.
in regards to this story - just consider the unintended consequences of something like this....if violent acts taped are ILLEGAL, a governing body will surely need to enforce this. this is just a stupid law and not well thought out - unless it IS well thought out and meant to censor the public by having it censor themselves. - Mathieu, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3This have nothing to do with socialism.
The former governement for the last 5 years is from right-wing. - Prysorra, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4@ pikebishop
Not everyone will ignore the banlieu immigrant slums just to spare you shame. - Asianwaste, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I'll say hello to the state of emergency before I say hello to the police state.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1wasn't funny the 1st time
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=21237
- chuco, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4This article is utter ***** why?:
1) Im French, I read French newspapers from all political spectrums and no one has ever heard anything about this law, and trust me if it was real, you would have some sort of strike (French people love to strike for whatever reason) Point is: bad translation on behalf of an anglo website.
2)No link whatsoever to the news source off of that page so impossible to go check the reference! Point is: story probably made up or at least overly bolown.
3) If the author what a little less dumb or at least check his facts he would know that France, besides all of its shortcomings, is actually the country with one of the most favorable law towards journalists and towards feedom of speach. No one has ever heard of a journalist going to jail for refusing to reveal his sources.
Bottom line, people check the stories and the facts before digging... - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -12/+12The new law should make it easier for koranimals to beat the living sh!t out of cowardly frogs.
- DAVIBE, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3say Hello to the Police State!
- maffiou, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1@Shuster and co...
The hilarious thing being that RSF is actually a France registered organisation defending the freedom of the press !! So much for a totalitarian state...
The law proposal has some pitfall, but it's only a proposal and highly perfectible, and watchdogs have spotted it and made it into a public matter for debate... Excellent, french society is working...
Don't know if I can say as much about the US. - protogenxl, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2This is a dupe story so I will recycle my previous comment
Well obviously there was a wide spread problem of people surrendering to the evening news casts so legislators took action. - uttles, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2pikebishop, I really want you to get the point, but it seems you've completely missed it.
- Herekose, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Oh yeah rued you're sooo right, that's a fact that foreigners like you know more things about france than a true french... I am french too and reading those comments is ***** hilarious or maybe scaring.
This law is only too prevent from people who film themselves hitting other people and making fun of it... That's ALL !!!!
"People who shot the Kennedy assassination, the Concorde blowing up, Rodney King and Saxozy's wife would all be behind bars." ---> You are soooo funny mate... Just think 1 second and don't be that idiot.... France is one the countries where the press freedom is the most defended in the world so stop witting ***** you're making me sick and just read FRENCH newspapers to get REAL informations.... oh *****, you don't even speak a word of that language.... - 3dom, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4Presumably this is a bid to prevent the rise of "happy slapping", a craze that was popular in the uk a few years ago where someone would walk up to a lone innocent member of the public and punch/slap them unexpectedly, and this was recorded via the cameraphone of an accomplice. It's a disgusting act but I don't believe legislation like this will prevent it by any means, as the assault charge carrries far more weight if ever proven, and that it completely clamps down on civil liberties. Also, can you imagine the uproar if a vigilante was prosecuted for distributing a video of police brutality? (think rodney king)
.Also, "government approved sources of info" WTF?
(edit: skipped past the happy slap part of the article, sorry.) - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4@guillermox (first commentator) & co
Just read this: http://theroadtothehorizon.blogspot.com/2007/02/day-i-got-exiled-from-us.html
Oh btw... that would never happen in France. - maffiou, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Gride: You're talking *****, man...
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1argue the points. Don't slander or you are the same
- Bushlied, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4If ya think this country's government is not capable of destroying the very freedom our men and women die for, your a damn fool.
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