“Obstruction to abortion” has already been a crime in France, and the new law applies the existing punishment — up to two years in prison and a €30,000 fine — to online activity. [...]
The center-right Les Républicains party has vowed to challenge the law all the way to the Constitutional Council. Lawmaker Christian Kert, speaking on behalf of the party, said just before the vote that the law would threaten freedom of expression and equate to “government censorship.”
France first banned interference with abortion in its penal code back in 1993. Back then, the move aimed to crack down on pro-life “commandos” who stormed hospitals to protest against the abortions being performed. [...]
When you search on Google for the French term for abortion (IVG), the first website listed is the government’s official information portal. But the second website listed, which looks just as professional and even provides a toll-free number to call for advice, is actually managed by activists seeking to talk women out of getting an abortion.
A French comedian recently called that number, purporting to discuss his girlfriend’s abortion plans. “She will have nightmares, anxiety, spams. She will wonder why she needs to smoke a pack of cigs each day and needs to have a glass of whiskey at night,” the veiled activist warned him, in a raucous recording aired on public radio.
The Huffington Post reported last year that the ministry had resorted to paying for better placement on Google so it would come up first, ahead of the unofficial, anti-abortion website.
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