Wednesday 18 May 2011

Financial Times: French media could face fines or legal action for showing IMF chief in handcuffs


France’s television regulator has warned broadcasters to exercise greater caution in showing images of people facing criminal procedures, after public criticism over photographs of the International Monetary Fund boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn being led away to face charges of attempted rape in New York, according to the Financial Times.

It reports: "Without mentioning Mr Strauss-Kahn’s name, the Higher Audiovisual Council said such images could “violate the right to personal dignity”. It said broadcasting such images, an act illegal in France since 2000, would be punished by a fine and called for “the greatest restraint in diffusing images of people under criminal investigation.

"Lawyers representing Mr Strauss-Kahn in France are weighing whether to sue French media over images showing the IMF boss being led by police on a “perp walk”, although some websites have withdrawn the offending photos."

  • Pic: New York Daily News, unfettered by restrictions, splashes on "perp walk."

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