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French Court Orders ISP To Block Police Misconduct Website

Posted by samzenpus on from the don't-look-at-that dept.

Freddybear writes "A French court has ordered ISPs to block access to Copwatch Nord Paris I-D-F, a website designed to allow civilians to post videos of alleged police misconduct. French police unions applauded the decision. Jean-Claude Delage, secretary general of the APN, said that '[t]he judges have analyzed the situation perfectly—this site being a threat to the integrity of the police — and made the right decision.'"

5 of 178 comments (clear)

  1. Privacy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    This site was giving full names and adresses of Police officers, this is why it was closed.

  2. French Copwatch != US Copwatch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    While I am no fan of censorship at all, the issue here is that this fFrench version of Copwatch was not so much about showing police abuse than collecting some cops personnal data. In some areas of France, being a cop is all the reason you need for being assaulted, and when a website lists your name and address... not good.

  3. Re:Words matter by TechLA · · Score: 5, Informative
    The site wasn't really for the purpose the summary and article make it sound like. It mainly collected personal information, addresses and even social networking accounts of police officers. Europe takes privacy of private persons much more seriously than US, and the information was even used for making threats.

    The police had said they were particularly concerned about portions of the site showing identifiable photos of police officers, along with personal data â" including some cases in which officers are said to express far-right sympathies on social networks. The initial complaint against the site was filed by a Paris police officer who said he had received a bullet in his mailbox after his picture had appeared on the site. He was joined by other officers.

    I'm all for making police actions more transparent, but single police officers should have some privacy regarding their personal life too.

  4. Re:FTFA - "this site being a threat to the integri by TechLA · · Score: 4, Informative

    They don't have a trouble if someone documents polices wrongful actions. They have a trouble with site that collects and lists police officers private home addresses, which lead them to receive threats via mail. The site also tried to show if police officers personal political opinion is right or left.

  5. Re:Words matter by turbidostato · · Score: 5, Informative

    "How is the contesnts of this website any different than someone compiling the same information and releasing it in print?"

    They are not. That's why it would be prosecuted in any case under European privacy laws.