France has become the first European country to make it a crime for anyone who is not a professional journalist to film violent acts and spread the images on the Internet.  Violations of the new law are punishable by up to 5 years in jail and €75,000 (almost $100,000) in fines. 

Critics from Ligue ODEBI, an association concerned with freedom of expression on the Internet, call it a clumsy, near-totalitarian effort to battle “happy slapping,” the youth practice of filming violent acts (often provoked by the youths themselves) and sharing the images on the Web or between mobile phones. The group issued a statement saying, "This makes France the Western country that most infringes on freedom of expression and information -- particularly on the Internet."

Media critics also note this will hinder citizens’ abilities to film and expose police brutality.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/03/08/france.violence.ap/index.html