(AFP) France’s highest constitutional authority on Thursday ruled that it objected to a key part of new legislation that aims to fight hatred online but has also sparked controversy among critics as harming civil liberties.
The Constitutional Council ruled that certain new obligations for internet platforms set out in the law — passed by parliament in May — were harmful to freedom of expression and communication.
Lawmakers will now have to agree changes to the law before it is submitted to President Emmanuel Macron for signing.
The Council ruled that certain parts of the law could “encourage operators of online platforms to withdraw content … whether or not it (the content) is manifestly illegal.”
