France weighs bill making groups liable for €10,000 in riot damage

France’s proposed “Rioters Pay” bill would make people financially liable for damage committed by others in a group they knowingly remain with after police order it to disperse, with liability of up to €10,000 and possible consequences for parents of minors. The government says the measure would help compensate businesses and other victims of protest-related destruction and ensure taxpayers do not bear the costs. Rights groups and lawyers warn that collective liability could punish peaceful demonstrators, undermine the right to protest and worsen hardship for vulnerable families; the bill also proposes recovering compensation from certain social benefits. A Senate amendment would let authorities restrict social media platforms that fail to act on reports of content encouraging violence or destruction.