Two senators have presented a bill to address what is now openly described as a crisis in French football. The draft envisions sweeping reform to tackle “structural” issues, including broadcasting rights and the ever-present threat from illegal streaming services. On the table, seven years in prison and a €750,000 fine for pirate IPTV suppliers operating as a group, three years and €300,000 for those not, and a new crime of inciting use of pirate IPTV services or software.
This one is particularly nasty, because simply suggesting to someone that pirate IPTV exists can be used to incriminate people that haven’t even done anything wrong. Regardless of your view on piracy, merely discussing something should never put you at risk of criminal charges.
One could argue that proposing this bill has incited me to try IPTV now, before it becomes more risky to do so.
Very bold move on behalf of the French government to restrict free speech. We know how that ended up last time.