French Senate Passes Bill Holding Protesters Liable for Damages

The French Senate passed the Compensation for damage resulting from degradation committed in public spaces bill, commonly known as the rioters-pay bill, with a 229 to 105 vote on October 28. The legislation allows the government to seek up to 10,000 euros in compensation from individuals who knowingly participated in groups intending to commit vandalism or who refused to disperse after two police warnings, regardless of whether they personally caused the damage.

To recover these costs, the government may seize welfare benefits, including housing assistance, family supplements, and employment bonuses. The bill also mandates that social media platforms remove content inciting insurrection within 24 hours or face blocking and expands the use of surveillance drones over demonstrations. The measure was fast-tracked following widespread looting on October 17 that left 2,201 businesses vandalized, as well as riots following a Champions League final in May.

Laurent Nuez, the Interior Minister, defended the law as a necessary response to chaos, arguing that the majority of citizens should not pay for the actions of a minority. However, Amnesty International and left-wing politicians have condemned the bill as collective punishment and an authoritarian drift that threatens the fundamental right to protest. The legislation now moves to the National Assembly for final debate and voting.