In a move that can only be described as, well, French, the French Constitutional Council passed a law that has made the filming or broadcasting of reports of violence by citizen journalists a criminal offence.

The council’s decision comes exactly 16 years after amateur videographer George Holliday filmed police officers beating Rodney King on March 3, 1991.

The council has also proposed a system of certification for web sites and other online content publication mediums, that would allow them to be identified as ‘government-approved sources of information’ if they conform to certain regulations. Reporters Without Borders, an organization that campaigns for free press has warned this system could lead to excessive self censorship.

Infoworld has more.

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