I wonder if photographs are next

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

03/08/2007 01:06:39 PM · #1

It's now illegal to take video of violent acts in France if you are not a journalist. You could be jailed up to five years. This is an attempt to curtail "happy slapping".

CNN story.

wavelength

Nikon D300

03/08/2007 01:12:15 PM · #2

Can anyone say fascism?

thegrandwazoo

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

03/08/2007 01:18:01 PM · #3

fascism

fotomann_forever

03/08/2007 01:21:22 PM · #4

I had to go look up what happy slapping" was. I wanna start a new trend like that. "Slippy Slapping " :-)

anotherday

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

03/08/2007 01:25:06 PM · #5

so basicaly, if by accident you film some act of violence that is of general interest...then you cannot pass it on TV (or internet), because you were not a journalist...pfffft

Nicolas Sarkozy really goes over the limit sometimes...

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

03/08/2007 01:28:46 PM · #6

Originally posted by anotherday:

so basicaly, if by accident you film some act of violence that is of general interest...then you cannot pass it on TV (or internet), because you were not a journalist...pfffft

Right. The story suggests that the filming of the Rodney King beating, and other such incidents, would now be punishable under French law. Kind of frightening and police-stateish, though that wasn't the intent.

Jammur

Nikon D300

03/08/2007 01:36:10 PM · #7

Silly French....
Without amateur videos how would the police ever identify all those trouble makers. In America, we want those tapes, just ask Josh Wolf.

quiet_observation

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

03/08/2007 01:44:05 PM · #8

What "happy slapping" here is - a group of young people randomly pick a stranger, beat the shit out of them, record it, and post it on the internet.

The last victim I heard about, a college student attacked by a group of high school students, had a skull fracture and will never fully recover from his injuries.

I can understand why people are upset and concerned about this pratice and want to do something about it even though this is probably not the best solution.

C-Fox

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

03/08/2007 02:20:46 PM · #9

Strange. I suspect there will always be people who think it is ok to hurt someone else. I guess I would rather it was filmed because it makes it a whole lot easier to identify who did it. Doubly so if they post it on-line where aquantance/friends/family/police will see it.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

03/08/2007 02:42:57 PM · #10

In the US it seems it would be enough to prosecute the perpetrators for assault and battery and/or attempted murder, and the videographer as both an accessory and under criminal conspiracy/murder for hire statutes, if they are a party to the action.

It seems that the difference between criminal and lawful videographers would be obvious -- the crook would give the tape to YouTube and the citizen to the Sûreté ... also the lawful citizen taping a beaing is likely the next victim if observed in the act.

Artifacts

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

03/08/2007 02:51:27 PM · #11

Originally posted by Louis:

It's now illegal to take video of violent acts in France if you are not a journalist.
CNN story.

France is not the United States and we cannot expect the same respect for freedom as we do here. That is what sets this country apart from others.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

03/08/2007 03:01:16 PM · #12

Originally posted by stdavidson:

Originally posted by Louis:
It's now illegal to take video of violent acts in France if you are not a journalist.
CNN story.

France is not the United States and we cannot expect the same respect for freedom as we do here. That is what sets this country apart from others.

Nor is France a dictatorship, which still makes this turn of events surprising, and has garnered reaction generally in Europe. Being in Canada, I view the US as an outsider, and understand the idea of "freedom" that Americans have, but from a Canadian perspective. Some find this surprising. A Canadian politician (Trudeau?) said that Canadians respect freedom, but do not worship it. That is, freedom cannot necessarily trump protecting the rights of others to living peaceably without harrassment or injury, etc. I believe this would be why Ernst Zundel didn't make it too far here.

And yet I still find this French law disquieting and troublesome.

Edit: to clarify, I would be the "outsider".

Message edited by author 2007-03-08 15:04:54.

kenskid

Nikon D700

03/08/2007 03:02:40 PM · #13

The US is going down the same path....keep your eye on the congress the next 2-4 years and you'll be shocked. And I don't mean only what CNN reports about congressional bills....research for yourself on the internet and see what they are going to pass or try to pass....

...beware.....

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

03/08/2007 03:04:28 PM · #14

Originally posted by stdavidson:

Ouch. If I refrain from going political here, d'ya think US citizens could stop crowing about how fantastic their country is?

howzit

03/08/2007 03:08:24 PM · #15

Originally posted by raish:

Originally posted by stdavidson:

Originally posted by Louis:
It's now illegal to take video of violent acts in France if you are not a journalist.
CNN story.

France is not the United States and we cannot expect the same respect for freedom as we do here. That is what sets this country apart from others.

Ouch. If I refrain from going political here, d'ya think US citizens could stop crowing about how fantastic their country is?

Are you from France :P

Ben

Canon EOS-30D

03/08/2007 03:17:41 PM · #16

Originally posted by stdavidson:

Was that a joke?

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

03/08/2007 03:18:11 PM · #17

Originally posted by howzit:

Absolutely not. I've lived there and learned the language and so on.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

03/08/2007 03:18:33 PM · #18

Originally posted by raish:

Ouch. If I refrain from going political here, d'ya think US citizens could stop crowing about how fantastic their country is?

Given its preamble, your question makes no sense.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

03/08/2007 03:25:18 PM · #19

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by raish:
Ouch. If I refrain from going political here, d'ya think US citizens could stop crowing about how fantastic their country is?

Given its preamble, your question makes no sense.

Nationalism is political. If I refrain then maybe an enormous nation of nationalists might do it do. Maybe not.

Artifacts

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

03/08/2007 03:43:53 PM · #20

Originally posted by raish:

Sorry... I probably should not have, but I'm just responding to the original statement.

I'm not really political and given current USA international activity I'm not proud of my country's behavior, but ultimately believe the USA seems to have a tendency to value the rights of individuals over government. The USA government is not always right, of course.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

03/08/2007 04:41:04 PM · #21

Originally posted by stdavidson:

Originally posted by raish:

Originally posted by stdavidson:

Originally posted by Louis:
It's now illegal to take video of violent acts in France if you are not a journalist.
CNN story.

France is not the United States and we cannot expect the same respect for freedom as we do here. That is what sets this country apart from others.

Ouch. If I refrain from going political here, d'ya think US citizens could stop crowing about how fantastic their country is?

Sorry... I probably should not have, but I'm just responding to the original statement.

I'm not really political and given current USA international activity I'm not proud of my country's behavior, but ultimately believe the USA seems to have a tendency to value the rights of individuals over government. The USA government is not always right, of course.

I'll wind my crying neck in then :)

nicklevy

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

03/08/2007 04:59:29 PM · #22

How a well educated politician with supposedly a great experience would think that the best solution to stop what is already a crime is to make something else, somehow related criminal too.

You can't enforce the law that IS already there so the best solution is to make more laws?

How logical is that?