French Senate approves bill to toughen penalties for those responsible for disturbances

The French Senate approved a law imposing stricter penalties for vandalism during protests, establishing civil liability for group members involved in such acts. The law allows for financial penalties up to €10,000 and includes measures like algorithmic surveillance and drone usage for judicial purposes. It also proposes blocking digital platforms that fail to remove inciting content promptly. Critics argue the law threatens freedom of expression and could lead to unconstitutional outcomes. The bill will now be debated in the National Assembly, where no majority exists, suggesting contentious discussions ahead.