The controversial law on “universal security” passes today in the French Parliament

The controversial bill on “universal security”, which criminalizes the malicious transmission of images of police officers, is expected to be approved today by the Parliament. France.

The bill, proposed by the Democratic Front for Democracy (LREM) party, has been in place since November. objected to fiercely challenged by advocates of public liberties. One last green light is expected late this morning.

It is then expected to pass the Constitutional Council before it becomes law, as AMPE explains. The left had promised the stage, and Prime Minister Jean-Castex had announced it in November. for Article 24, the most controversial provision of the bill which includes 70 articles.

Article 24, which aims to protect law enforcement when operating by criminalizing the malicious transmission of their images, has drawn criticism. The move was defended by the government, which said it aimed to protect police officers from hatred and threats against their lives on social media – but its opponents say it would prevent the filming of police forces during an operation. thus preventing its documentation police violence.

The challenge was expressed in the street, sometimes with violent incidents, in a social context in which the police are accused of multiple violent deviations.

The Senate, where the right has the majority, has largely rewritten Article 24 creating in the penal code an offense of “provocation in identification”. Reference is no longer made to the 1881 Freedom of the Press Act. A joint committee of lawmakers and senators approved the amendment in late March and gave the bill a new title: “Universal Security Act with the Safeguarding of Freedoms.”

Journalistic associations and organizations defending freedoms demanded his withdrawal again the day before yesterday, Tuesday.

Other measures are still the subject of public debate such as the increased use of portable cameras by police, unmanned aerial vehicles, the possession of weapons by off-duty police or the creation of a municipal police force in Paris.

The bill seeks to create a “security continuum” between state forces, reinforced municipal police forces and better-structured private security services.

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