The Volokh Conspiracy - French Proposal To Outlaw "Propaganda ... In Favor of ... [Dangerously] Excessive Thinness":

A French bill (No. 791, April 9, 2008), would provide (translation by my brother Sasha):

"Art. 223-14-1. The fact of provoking a person to seek an excessive thinness by encouraging prolonged dietary restrictions having for effect to expose him to a danger of death or to directly compromise his health is punished by two years of imprisonment and 30,000 euros of fine. The penalties are increased to three years of imprisonment and 45,000 euros of fine when this seeking of excessive thinness has provoked the death of the person.

"Art. 223-14-2. Propaganda or publicity, whatever the method, in favor of products, objects, or methods recommended as means of achieving an excessive thinness having for effect to directly compromise health, is punished by two years of imprisonment and 30,000 euros of fine."

The New York Times reports that the law is supported by the government's health minister, and backed by President Sarkozy's party. "As written, the proposed French law does not make it clear who would be ultimately responsible for the content of such sites — the content creator or the Internet service hosting the site." "[T]he French legislators are seeking to tame a murky world of some 400 sites extolling 'ana' and 'mia,' nicknames for anorexia and bulimia."

(Show the French original.)

	[Eugene Volokh, April 18, 2008 at 6:30pm] Trackbacks French Proposal To Outlaw "Propaganda ... In Favor of ... [Dangerously] Excessive Thinness": A French bill (No. 791, April 9, 2008), would provide (translation by my brother Sasha): "Art. 223-14-1. The fact of provoking a person to seek an excessive thinness by encouraging prolonged dietary restrictions having for effect to expose him to a danger of death or to directly compromise his health is punished by two years of imprisonment and 30,000 euros of fine. The penalties are increased to three years of imprisonment and 45,000 euros of fine when this seeking of excessive thinness has provoked the death of the person. "Art. 223-14-2. Propaganda or publicity, whatever the method, in favor of products, objects, or methods recommended as means of achieving an excessive thinness having for effect to directly compromise health, is punished by two years of imprisonment and 30,000 euros of fine." The New York Times reports that the law is supported by the government's health minister, and backed by President Sarkozy's party. "As written, the proposed French law does not make it clear who would be ultimately responsible for the content of such sites — the content creator or the Internet service hosting the site." "[T]he French legislators are seeking to tame a murky world of some 400 sites extolling 'ana' and 'mia,' nicknames for anorexia and bulimia." (Show the French original.) I. – L'intitulé de la section 6 du chapitre III du titre II du livre II du code pénal est ainsi rédigé : « De la provocation au suicide et à la maigreur excessive ». II. – Après l'article 223-14 du même code, il est inséré deux articles 223-14-1 et 223-14-2 ainsi rédigés : « Art. 223-14-1. – Le fait de provoquer une personne à rechercher une maigreur excessive en encourageant des restrictions alimentaires prolongées ayant pour effet de l'exposer à un danger de mort ou de compromettre directement sa santé est puni de deux ans d'emprisonnement et de 30 000 € d'amende. « Les peines sont portées à trois ans d'emprisonnement et 45 000 € d'amende lorsque cette recherche de maigreur excessive a provoqué la mort de la personne. » « Art. 223-14-2. – La propagande ou la publicité, quel qu'en soit le mode, en faveur de produits, d'objets ou de méthodes préconisés comme moyens de parvenir à une maigreur excessive ayant pour effet de compromettre directement la santé, est punie de deux ans d'emprisonnement et de 30 000 euros d'amende. » III. – Dans l'article 223-15 du même code, le mot et la référence : « et 223- 14 » sont remplacés par la référence : « à 223-14-2 ». (Hide the French original.)