Can you believe this full-frontal assault on the concept and practice of citizen journalism? The French constitutional council has approved a law that criminalises the filming or broadcasting of acts of violence by people other than professional journalists. Perpetrators face up to five years in prison and a fine of €75,000 (£51,000).
The ostensible reason for the law is to crack down on the phenomenon of "happy slapping," in which a violent attack is filmed by an accomplice, typically with a camera phone, for the amusement of the attacker's friends. It was proposed by France's interior minister - and presidential candidate - Nicolas Sarkozy.
But, according to a French civil liberties group, the law could also be used against eyewitnesses who video acts of police violence, and the website operators who publish such images. Pascal Cohet, a spokesman for French online civil liberties group Odebi says the broad drafting of the law, thereby threatening citizen journalists, is no accident. He points out that it fits with other proposed French laws aimed at controlling the publication of online content.
The Paris-based international press watchdog, Reporters without Borders, is also concerned. It says: "We recognise the need to prevent the spread of 'happy slapping,' but this law introduces a dangerous distinction between professional journalists... and ordinary citizens.... 'citizen journalists' can play a role in monitoring the activities of the authorities throughout the world."
News of this law, and its implications, has spread quickly across the globe. A Korean-based site is running a piece which says: "To believe, just for a second, that a national law will be able to stop user-generated videos of any kind at the borders of the French internet is ludicrous and laughable. Unless - and this is a worrying thought - a future government votes the means to enforce it, with cyber-police."
Yes, it is laughable. And it may also prove unenforceable. It may not even be as suspicious as the critics suggest. But it is a worrying development. As a writer on Macworld reminds us, the French chose an unfortunate anniversary to publish their decision. It came exactly 16 years after Los Angeles police officers were filmed by a concerned citizen while beating Rodney King. If that man, George Holliday, was to repeat the exercise on the Champs d'Elysees, he could end up jail for five years.
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