On 3rd March, the Prevention of Criminality Law (http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=21237) was passed. Nicolas Sarkozy said the law was aimed at so called 'happy slappers' who film acts of violence. The law provides for sentences up to FIVE YEARS and fines of up to £50,000 for publishing for anyone caught breaking acts mentioned in the law - one of which includes violence "committed by an agent of the state in the exercise of his duties".
If this isnt a hamper to Citizen journalists and a direct attempt to keep them under control then i dont know what is and it could potentially result in a world wide blanket ban on such examples of Citizen journalism but does it then take away the right to freedom of expression? and is it even possible to impose such a law in practice??
If the toulouse riot is anythying to go by, no. policing the citizen journalists would require almost double the number of police...hours after the riots - despite the law - videos and photos began to appear on the net.
However, implemented or not, this law introduces a clear distinction between 'professional' journalists, allowed to show images of violence and ordinary 'citizen' journalists who can be jailed for the same thing
SOPHIE
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