French government worked out bill against digital enhancement

[Slixtiesix]

According to "The Australian", from 22nd September 2009:

"FRENCH politicians want to stamp a "health warning" on photographs of models that are altered in order to make them more appealing; part of a campaign against eating disorders.

French parliamentarian Valerie Boyer, a member of President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party, and some 50 other politicians proposed the law to fight what they see as a warped image of women's bodies in the media.

"These images can make people believe in a reality that often does not exist," Ms Boyer said, adding that the law should apply to press photographs, political campaigns, art photography and images on packaging as well as advertisements.

Under the proposed law, all enhanced photos would be accompanied by a line saying: "Photograph retouched to modify the physical appearance of a person."

Digitally enhanced photographs have been at the centre of a string of scandals; two years ago, Paris Match altered a photo of Mr Sarkozy to remove chubby love handles.

Luxury brands and fashion magazines have been accused of digitally making models look thinner, enhancing their breasts, whitening teeth, lengthening legs and erasing wrinkles.

Ms Boyer said being confronted with unrealistic standards of female beauty could lead to various kinds of psychological problems, in particular eating disorders.

Breaking the law, proposed last week, would be punished with a fine of 37,500 euros ($54,930), or up to 50 per cent of the cost of the advertisement."

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...-12377,00.html


Must admit that I can understand their reasons for this bill. Nethertheless I fear that it will be difficult to apply such a law in reality and to judge whether it is too much. The fine seems really hefty.

Any comments?

Best regards, Benjamin

[verney]

What about soft focus lenses? Good intentions but...

[Shaggysk8]

Good, that will save me some work it's a pain!

[MikeSeb]

What a silly waste of time. No doubt, French politicians---as is the predilection of politicians everywhere---will figure out a way also to waste French taxpayers' euros regulating things best left to the discretion of producers and consumers of the photographs in question.

Anyone with a particle of gray matter recognizes that models in fashion mags are uber-retouched, and that such images are not an ideal of (usually female) beauty to be emulated. If parents can't convey this to their daughters, is a French-government warning label going to succeed?

Ridiculous.

[jeroldharter]

What a silly waste of time. No doubt, French politicians---as is the predilection of politicians everywhere---will figure out a way also to waste French taxpayers' euros regulating things best left to the discretion of producers and consumers of the photographs in question.

Anyone with a particle of gray matter recognizes that models in fashion mags are uber-retouched, and that such images are not an ideal of (usually female) beauty to be emulated. If parents can't convey this to their daughters, is a French-government warning label going to succeed?

Ridiculous.

But that is what French government is good for. Sadly, we in following the European tradition ourselves. "Gray matter" is not a commodity of trade in modern government.

[Sirius Glass]

What will the French do next? Control the growth and use of the French language?? :o

Steve