I don't care whether you think the so-called "Happy-Slapping-Video" law is a good idea or not. It is bad policy.
In the United States, someone videotaping an assault like that would be considered a conspirator and an accomplice, and would face the same penalty as the people actually attacking the victim. So there is no need to go after the cameraman with a separate law. The mere fact that they intended to shoot it becomes an aggravating factor for sentencing.
Now, let's look at the climate behind this poorly-drafted law.
France is one of many nations lobbying to take over ICANN. Using a reasonable-sounding argument of international egalitarianism, France wants to pull control over internet domain name registration and arbitration away from the United States. (note: ICANN is NOT an arm of the U.S. government, and remains an independent body.)
Now - once ICANN is shuffled off to international waters, it is suddenly more prone to strong-arming from various governments with more restrictive freedoms regarding speech and expression. That would be crappy for everyone... particularly here in the United States, where there IS no certification for "Authorized Media Provider." Once you let the government define who can bring you the news, you let them silence the voices of dissent.
If you are indeed a journalist, start asking some better questions. Don't take the word of a government official who tells you how the law will be interpreted. That's a smokescreen. Demand that your "Happy Slapping" law gets spelled out TO THE LETTER. Don't get suckered into giving up your liberty.
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Re: Talk amongst yourselves...
I actually did that on behalf of my employer. I left suggested edits and a link to documentation in June of 2010.
Today, 1/20/2012, some of those edits were made.
French journalists don't see the big picture
I don't care whether you think the so-called "Happy-Slapping-Video" law is a good idea or not. It is bad policy.
In the United States, someone videotaping an assault like that would be considered a conspirator and an accomplice, and would face the same penalty as the people actually attacking the victim. So there is no need to go after the cameraman with a separate law. The mere fact that they intended to shoot it becomes an aggravating factor for sentencing.
Now, let's look at the climate behind this poorly-drafted law.
France is one of many nations lobbying to take over ICANN. Using a reasonable-sounding argument of international egalitarianism, France wants to pull control over internet domain name registration and arbitration away from the United States. (note: ICANN is NOT an arm of the U.S. government, and remains an independent body.)
Now - once ICANN is shuffled off to international waters, it is suddenly more prone to strong-arming from various governments with more restrictive freedoms regarding speech and expression. That would be crappy for everyone... particularly here in the United States, where there IS no certification for "Authorized Media Provider." Once you let the government define who can bring you the news, you let them silence the voices of dissent.
If you are indeed a journalist, start asking some better questions. Don't take the word of a government official who tells you how the law will be interpreted. That's a smokescreen. Demand that your "Happy Slapping" law gets spelled out TO THE LETTER. Don't get suckered into giving up your liberty.