France

Also available in: Français Español عربي

Spotlight: France Free Expression & the Law

French police try to search news outlet following article on Macron's ex-security officer

5 February 2019
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

Mediapart ran a report on Alexandre Benalla, President Macron's former security officer, based on leaked documents and secret audio recordings; Benalla was fired in July for beating up a protester during the May Day demonstrations.

France Attacks Digital Rights

French police and protesters attack the media in Yellow Vest protests

Numerous journalists have reported being attacked and threatened by riot police during the ongoing demonstrations sweeping France; others have been forcibly ejected from meetings by protesters and physically intimidated.

‎ Reporters Without Borders (RSF)‎ 7 January 2019

France Attacks Freedom of Assembly

French police injure students, demonstrators and journalists during Paris protests

French authorities should investigate whether police anti-riotntactics were necessary and proportional, and should hold officers to account for excessive use of force, Human Rights Watch says.

‎ Human Rights Watch (HRW)‎16 December 2018

International Attacks France Censorship

Charlie Hebdo anniversary: Journalists still face death for "blasphemy"

Three years after 12 people were killed at the French satirical weekly, those who censor in the name of God still pose one of the gravest threats to free expression.

‎ Reporters Without Borders (RSF)‎ 8 January 2018

Latest from France

The threat of "glorifying terrorism" laws

‎ By Cathal Sheerin for IFEX

Europe & Central Asia France Free Expression & the Law Spain 2 February 2017
A letter to France and Germany from an imprisoned Bahraini activist

‎ Human Rights Watch

France Germany Digital Rights Censorship Bahrain 8 January 2017
Camille Lepage

‎ IFEX

Central African Republic France Attacks 12 July 2016
A year after Charlie Hebdo, RSF warns against "religious correctness"

‎ Reporters Without Borders

Access to Information International Attacks France Censorship 7 January 2016
France's new emergency powers interfere with rights to privacy, freedom of association

‎ Human Rights Watch

France Digital Rights Free Expression & the Law Freedom of Assembly 25 November 2015
After Paris attacks, RSF launches operation "#opendoor for reporters"

‎ Reporters Without Borders

Access to Information France Attacks 16 November 2015
Groups warn of sweeping powers new French law would grant spy agencies

‎ Reporters Without Borders, Privacy International

France Digital Rights Free Expression & the Law 1 April 2015
Free speech advocates condemn attack on Charlie Hebdo

‎ IFEX

France Attacks Censorship 7 January 2015
Alarming rise in violence against journalists covering protests in France

‎ Reporters Without Borders

Attacks France Censorship Freedom of Assembly 19 November 2014
France: Counterterrorism bill would breach free movement, expression

‎ Human Rights Watch

France Digital Rights Free Expression & the Law 15 October 2014
Enraged hacker resorts to aggressive methods against French journalist and website

‎ Reporters Without Borders

Digital Rights France Censorship 8 August 2014
European Court ruling on French "veil ban" a blow for freedom of expression

‎ ARTICLE 19

France Free Expression & the Law 2 July 2014
France: Alarm over massive spying provisions in new military programming law

‎ Reporters Without Borders

Digital Rights France Free Expression & the Law 13 December 2013
French magazine raises specter of racism and press freedoms

‎ Index on Censorship

France 26 November 2013
France: Strict defamation and privacy laws limit free expression

‎ Index on Censorship

France Censorship 19 August 2013
France's ban on full-face veils violates freedom of expression, group says

‎ ARTICLE 19

France Free Expression & the Law 24 July 2013
Court rules in favour of French reporter accused of staging footage

‎ International Federation of Journalists

France Censorship Free Expression & the Law 28 June 2013
Haitian editor-in-chief killed in drive-by shooting

‎ International Press Institute

Attacks France Haiti 3 April 2013
Military zones in Mali 'off-limits' for journalists

‎ Reporters Without Borders

Mali France Censorship 17 January 2013
Judicial enquiry launched in Paris over jamming of Eritrean radio station

‎ Reporters Without Borders

France Censorship Eritrea 13 November 2012
Russia: Putin's Visit to Germany, France Needs Rights Focus

‎ Human Rights Watch

Syria France Russia United States Germany 30 May 2012
Presidential candidates ignore serious breaches of freedom of information

‎ Reporters Without Borders

France 12 April 2012
Threat from use of Internet surveillance to combat terrorism

‎ Reporters Without Borders

France 26 March 2012
Genocide-denial law declared unconstitutional

‎ ARTICLE 19

France 29 February 2012
Turkish newspaper's Europe offices attacked

‎ International Press Institute

Germany France Turkey 17 February 2012
Documentary filmmaking threatened by court ruling

‎ Reporters Without Borders

France 7 February 2012

At a glance

Most covered free expression issues in this country

More from France

Freedom on the Net 2017: France

Concerns about the impact of disinformation and political bot operations heightened in the run-up to the 2017 French presidential election, as leaked communications related to candidate Emmanuel Macron were dumped online and amplified by automated accounts in attempts to destabilize the race right before campaigning closed

Freedom House 16 November 2017
Freedom of the Press 2017: France

A new law strengthening core aspects of media freedom was approved by the parliament in October, though a section of it that bolstered journalists’ right to protect their sources was later struck down.

Freedom House 28 April 2017
Freedom of the Press 2016: France

Government pushed through legislation allowing mass surveillance of personal communications with little judicial oversight, and authorities arrested 54 people for hate speech or for allegedly defending terrorism.

Freedom House 23 April 2016