French law targets ‘happy slappers’

FRANCE’S Interior Ministry last night defended a new law that makes it illegal for anyone other than professional journalists to film and distribute images of real-world violence, saying judges will ensure that the measure does not infringe freedom of expression.

Critics say the law is a clumsy, if well-intentioned, effort to fight “happy slapping”, the ill-named youth fad of filming orchestrated violence and sharing the images on the web or between mobile phones. The measure, part of a broad anti-crime law championed by Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy that took effect Wednesday, will be subject to up to five years in prison and €75,000 in fines.

The new law has implications for online video sites like YouTube.

French press advocacy group Reporters Without Borders expressed concerns the law could open the door to prosecution of “citizen journalists” who “can play a role in monitoring the activities of the authorities throughout the world” and exposing injustices.

Sarkozy is a top contender in the French two-round presidential election in April and May. The minster said: “A judge understands the difference between a ‘happy slapping’ video and a ‘citizen’s video’ very well. This law notably targets ‘happy slapping’ operations.”