Footage of May Day Protests in France Shared in Relation to a Security Bill
The Claim
Video shows protesters as they set a bank on fire and burned cars in Paris because of the police brutality bill in France.
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Social media users are claiming that French Protesters set fire to cars and hurled fire missiles at the Central Bank of France during a rally to oppose a bill that prevents reporters from covering police brutality.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the claim and found it to be misleading. After conducting a reverse image check, Misbar’s team discovered that the video is, in fact, recent and dates to May 1, 2022, but has nothing to do with a police brutality bill.
Using Google Earth, Misbar’s team was able to geolocate the video to Boulevard Voltaire, Paris.
Photo Description: A screenshot from the circulating video.
Photo Description: The location of the video via Google Earth.
Another angle of the video, which confirms that the video was taken on May Day, can be seen below.
Macron’s Security Law
The French government introduced a security bill to parliament in 2020, with the goal of expanding surveillance tools and restricting the use of images of police officers in the media and online, sparking a wave of street protests.
President Macron introduced this bill in an effort to improve law and order ahead of the 2022 elections. Furthermore, his government emphasized the importance of protecting police officers from online hate crimes. The draft, however, was later changed.
The French parliament passed a security bill in April 2021, despite criticism from civil rights activists who fear it will jeopardize efforts to expose police abuses.
"Police officers and gendarmes are the children of the republic, and they must be protected because they protect us every day," said Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
May Day Protests in France
On May Day 2022, thousands of people marched throughout France, calling for salary increases and for Macron to drop his plan to raise the retirement age.
Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin, reported that violence broke out in the capital, where police arrested 45 people. Eight police were injured, he added.
Misbar’s team found that the video circulating is unrelated to the security law, and hence, the claim is misleading. The circulating video was taken on May 1, 2022.
Misbar has debunked previous claims about May Day, also known as Labor Day, protests in France.
