Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-xtgtn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-18T16:11:31.292Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Private Life and Public Image: Privacy Legislation in France

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 January 2008

Helen Trouille
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

In October 1998, at the height of the Monicagate scandal, the publication by the French publisher Plon of a novel which recounts the adulterous relationship in the 1960s between a politician bearing a marked resemblance to Francois Mitterrand, and a journalist, provided an interesting comparison between the attitudes of the French and of the Americans to the romantic dalliances of their respective leaders. For Jeanne Dautun's work of fiction Un ami d'autrefois is most certainly no Monica's Story, and French reactions to their President's lengthy extra-marital relationship with Anne Pingeot have been at the very least understanding, if not even compassionate. In France, the small gathering of graveside mourners amongst whom Mitterrand's mistress and illegitimate daughter Mazarine took their places shocked no-one, although many an eyebrow was raised in the United States. In truth, Mitterrand manipulated the release of information about his private life all along the line, “coming clean” only progressively with his approaching death. Although the general public knew nothing of his double life, journalists had been very much aware of the existence of this second family for a great many years, but had revealed nothing. The respect of his privacy in this relationship and the reactions of fellow French politicians to his unashamed infidelity contrast sharply with the fate reserved for Bill Clinton, the indiscretions of his private life exposed in the nation's press for all to enjoy. We may ask ourselves if French journalists are perhaps more gentlemanly, less cut-throat than their Anglo-Saxon counterparts. Or are the cliches which describe latins as inveterate romantics and lovers true after all? Or are these irrational judgments supported by powerful French legislation protecting the individual's right to privacy? This article aims to examine the main texts relating to infringements of privacy in France, highlighting in particular those committed by the press against public figures and celebrities.

Type
Shorter Articles, Comments and Notes
Information
International & Comparative Law Quarterly , Volume 49 , Issue 1 , January 2000 , pp. 199 - 208
Copyright
Copyright © British Institute of International and Comparative Law 2000

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Dufay, F., “La bonne mesure française”, Le Point, 19 Sept. 1998, pp.72–73.Google Scholar

2. “Nous avons la chance de ne pas connaiˇtre le syndrôme américain, la vie privée de tout homme public étalée en long et en large”; Le Point, 2 Nov. 1991, quoted in Courtois, G., “En France, par convention, la vie privée des hommes politiques est respectée”, Le Monde, 17 Sept. 1998, p.7.Google Scholar

3. Guerrin, M., “La mort de Diana a bouleversé les moeura des paparazzu et de la ‘presse people’”, Le Monde, 1 Sept. 1998, p.19.Google Scholar

4. Malherbe, J., La vie privée et le drois moderne (Librairie du journal des notaires et des avocats; comment faire? Paris, 1968) p.4.Google Scholar

5. See Morange, J., Droits de l'homme el libertés publiques, 3é édition (PUF, Paris, 1995), p.16.Google Scholar

6. Decision of the Tribunal de grande instance, Paris, 2 Jun. 1976, Dalloz, 1977, p.364.

7. Decision of the Tribunal de grande instance, Bayonne, 29 May 1976, Semaine juridique 1976, second part (Jurisprudence), paragraph 18495, commentary by Bonnais.

8. Harris, D.J. et al. , Law of the European Convention on Human Rights (Butterworths, 1995) p.302.Google Scholar

9. Decision of the Cour d'appel, Lyon, 2 Jul. 1991, Dalloz 1991, p.252 and Cour d'appel, Dijon, 2 Jul 1991, Gazette du Patois 1994, Vol.I, p.237.Google Scholar

10. Morange, J., p.17.

11. Decision of the Cour de Paris, on appeal, 27 fév. 1967, see Malherbe, J., p.5.

12. Bilger, P. et Lebedel, P.Abrégé des droits de la presse, 3e édition (CFPJ, Paris, 1991), pp.43–4.Google Scholar

13. Rivero, J., Les libertés publiques, vol.2 (PUF, Paris, 1977), p.7.Google Scholar

14. Tribunal de grande instance, Nanterre, 15 Feb. 1995, Gazette du Palais, 1995, volume I, p.282.Google Scholar

15. “Les habitants ne seront jamais délogés de la chambre et du lit où ils ont l'habitude de coucher.” Morange, J., p.175, note 2.

16. See Morange J., p.174.

17. Chatelain, C. and d'Antoni, D., “La presse a-t-elle le droit du tout raconter?” Ça m'intéresse, Jun. 1998, p.34.Google Scholar

18. Turpin, D., Les libtrtés publiques, 3e édition (Mémentos, Paris, 1996) p.224.Google Scholar

19. Le Point, 18 Jun. 1999, p.137. “On veut tuer la photo—on tue ainsi la liberté d'informer. Le projet de loi sur la présomption d'innocence présenté au parlement, l'interprétation abusive du droit à l'image et l'arbitraire des procédures créent de nouvelles censures. Elles nous priveront des photos essentielles qui font notre histoire.”