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3 comments

[–] TheRedArmy 0 points (+0|-0)

Le Pen's immunity shields her from prosecution; lifting it would permit legal action against her. The offense being considered is "publishing violent images," which under certain circumstances can carry a penalty of three years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros ($79,650).

"Publishing violent images" is a crime in the EU? I looked around some but couldn't find the actual text of the law anywhere. I'd like to see it, but man, sounds like madness to me.

[–] jidlaph [OP] 0 points (+0|-0)

It's important to remember Freedom of Speech is not a thing outside the US. There's a lot of leeway, but censorship does exist.

[–] TheRedArmy 1 points (+1|-0)

I know freedom of speech is curbed in many ways, such as with Nazi images and the like in central Europe, but such a broad statement as "publishing violent images" would seem to encompass so much that I can't even wrap my head around it. Which is why I wanted to see the law specifically, but I couldn't find it.

I mean, what if I link to an article on a tweet that includes a violent image on it? Or link to a review of a video game that has violent images? Or if I am a "news blogger", and link to, as she did (according to the article), a beheading of a citizen of country X, for the purpose of reporting the news?

It just seems like such an ingress on what I regard as such a natural right that I can't fathom happily living under such a law.

It makes me think of the broader topic of culture and how it influences our views of the world. I think I doubt that I would personally have such Libertarian principles if I had been born and raised in another country other than here - even another western nation, like France or the UK.