Security bill aimed at protecting police draws tens of thousands of protesters across France

PARIS — Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across France on Saturday to protest a security bill that would restrict sharing images of police officers and strengthen government surveillance tools, the latest sign that anger over recent cases of police violence is galvanizing opposition.

Media organizations and human rights groups held rallies in dozens of cities including Paris, Bordeaux and Lyon. All raised alarm about the newbill, saying it could curb freedom of the press and limit police accountability.

Tensions in France have been rising over President Emmanuel Macron’s broader security policies, which opponents say increasingly restrict civil liberties. The frictions have grown in part in the wake of a string of Islamist terrorist attacks over the past few months.

Many of the demonstrators consider the new security bill a drift toward repression in government policy and further evidence

of the government’s slide to the right.

One of the most disputed elements is a provision that would criminalize the broadcasting of “the face or any other identifying element” of on-duty police officers if the goal is to “physically or mentally harm” them.

The government has said this

provision is intended to protect police from online abuses. But critics argue that the wording could dissuade citizens and journalists fromfilming the police and holding them accountable.

Another provision authorizes the use of drones to film citizens in public and allow footage from body cameras worn by police to be livestreamed to authorities.

The bill has brought condemnation fromthe French press, human right organizations and the country’s defender of rights, an independent ombudsman that monitors civil and human rights.

The bill, which the lower house of Parliament passed this week, still needs to be considered by the Senate. The government has faced mounting pressure to rewrite or remove key provisions.

In a sign that the government could be preparing to backtrack, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced Friday that hewould appoint an independent commission to help redraft the disputed provision on the broadcasting of images of police officers.

Although the protests in Paris were mostly peaceful, some protesters smashed shop windows and set cars and a cafe on fire, while the police responded by firing tear gas and using water cannons.

“Rather than trying to solve problems, this law seeks to cover up blunders,” said Nicolas Gonnot, a 50-year-old computer engineer who demonstrated in Paris.

Francois Mori / Associated Press A car burns Saturday in Paris during a demonstration against a law that would restrict images of police. Civil liberties groups say it could allow police brutality to go unpunished.