Censorship in France
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article discusses modern censorship in France. Few statutory forms of censorship exist in France; however, a handful of topics are prohibited by law in all media in France, including Holocaust denial and advocacy of illegal drugs.
Restrictive intellectual property laws in France can have an effect that practically equates to censorship, as when celebrities, corporations, or other parties move to prohibit publication on the grounds that it would infringe copyrights, trademarks. The right to privacy has been extended into a "rights to one's self image", enabling celebrities but also other individuals to sue publishers. Equally restrictive laws and jurisprudence concerning defamation can have a similar chilling effect on freedoms of expression.
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[edit] Press
The press is largely unrestricted by law in France, although indirect pressures are sometimes applied to prevent publication of materials against the interests of the government or influential industries. involvement of the government and major industrial groups, sometimes with political ties, with certain press organizations sometimes raises questions as to the ability of the press to remain truly independent and unrestricted. Examples include:
- the Agence France-Presse, an internationally active news agency used by the media world-wide, is a public corporation nominally independent from the government, but derives a lot of its revenue from sales to government;
- Serge Dassault, businessman involved in warplanes, and thus in government procurement contracts, (see Dassault Aviation) and senator from the ruling UMP party, owns newspapers including Le Figaro; he famously indicated that he intended his papers to reflect only "healthy ideas" (idées saines) and that left-wing ideas were unhealthy;[1]
- the Bouygues group, a major operator of public works and thus of government procurement contracts, owns the TF1 TV channel, which has the largest audience.
In addition, most of the press depends on advertisement to generate revenue; the question of independence from advertisers is a constant and contentious one, with repeat assertions that undesirable investigations were descheduled from TV broadcasts.
However, there are outstanding examples of freedom and independence of the press, including the Le Canard enchaîné, a newspaper that is known for its scoops and its brazen publication thereof, even against the will of the government. The Canard does not accept advertisement in order to remain truly independent.
[edit] Cinema
All films intended for theatrical release have to be granted a visa by the Ministry of Culture, upon the recommendation of Commission for film classification (Commission de classification cinématographique), which can give a film on of four ratings:
- Tous publics (universal): suitable for all audiences
- Interdit aux moins de 12 ans (-12): Forbidden for under 12s
- Interdit aux moins de 16 ans (-16): Forbidden for under 16s
- Interdit aux moins de 18 ans (-18): Forbidden for under 18s
Cinemas are bound by law to prevent underaged audiences from viewing films and may be fined if they fail to do so.
The Commission cannot make cuts to a film, but it can ban it, although this latter power is rarely used. In practice, this means that most films in France are categorized rather than censored.
Although there are no written guidelines as to what sort of content should receive which rating and ratings are given on a case by case basis, the commissioners typically cite violent, sexual and drug related content (especially if it is deemed to be graphic or gratuitous) as reasons for higher ratings. By contrast little attention is paid to strong language. However sexual content is much less likely to produce a high rating than in many other countries, including the United States.
Films that have received comparatively low ratings in France include:
- American Beauty, -12
- A Ma Soeur!, -12
- Taxi Driver, -16, reclassified to -12
Films once banned include:
- Zéro de conduite, (1933)
- La Garçonne, (1923)
- L'Essayeuse, (1976)
- Du - Zwischenzeichen der Sexualität, (1968)
- The Battle of Algiers, (1965)
[edit] Television
The Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel is charged to regulate televisions, both public and private.
[edit] References
- Report by the chairman of the French Commission of film classification
- Internet Movie Database - films banned in France
[edit] External links
- CNC Centre National de la Cinématographie, parent organisation of the Commission for film classification
- CSA Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel
- IFEX International Freedom of Expression Exchange
- Specific Sites Excluded from Google.fr and or Google.de.
