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France: Bill on publishing police images sparks protests

France Protest
Posted at 1:49 PM, Nov 22, 2020
and last updated 2020-11-22 13:49:26-05

PARIS (AP) — Thousands of people in France have protested a proposed security law that would make it a criminal offense to publish images of police officers with the intent to cause them harm.

Offenders would face a maximum penalty of up to one year in prison and a 45,000-euro ($53,000) fine.

The government says the proposal is intended to protect officers from online calls for violence.

Critics fear that, if enacted, the measure would be used to punish journalists and other observers who take videos of officers at work.

Police used water cannons to disperse the protest crowd in Paris as minor scuffles broke out at the end of Saturday's demonstration.