{"id":3050,"date":"2014-08-29T10:49:03","date_gmt":"2014-08-29T10:49:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/2014\/08\/29\/rv-50\/"},"modified":"2018-06-19T14:14:10","modified_gmt":"2018-06-19T10:14:10","slug":"rv-50","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/rv-50\/","title":{"rendered":"Violation of \u201cl\u2019intimit\u00e9 de la vie priv\u00e9e\u201d is an offence"},"content":{"rendered":"

A balance will have to be struck between freedom of expression, the duty to act responsibly and the right to privacy<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n

At paragraphs 147 and 148 of the Republic of Mauritius National Human Rights Action Plan 2012-2020, under the heading \u201cEnhancing the System of Freedom of Expression and Better Protecting Privacy and Human Dignity\u201d, there is a pledge that the right to privacy (vie priv\u00e9e), which is insufficiently safeguarded, shall be afforded better protection in our law. <\/span><\/p>\n

It is indicated in the National Human Rights Action Plan that when the equivalent of Article 22 Code Civil Mauricien was introduced in French Law [Article 9 Code Civil Fran\u00e7ais], it was accompanied by other equally protective measures in the penal domain which were incorporated in the Code P\u00e9nal as Articles 368-372 [now Articles 226-1 seq. Nouveau Code P\u00e9nal Fran\u00e7ais].<\/span><\/p>\n

Under Article 226-1 of the French Penal Code, the following conduct is an offence:-<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00abLe fait, au moyen d’un proc\u00e9d\u00e9 quelconque, volontairement de porter atteinte \u00e0 l’intimit\u00e9 de la vie priv\u00e9e d’autrui :<\/span><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 En captant, enregistrant ou transmettant, sans le consentement de leur auteur, des paroles prononc\u00e9es \u00e0 titre priv\u00e9 ou confidentiel ;<\/span><\/p>\n

2 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 En fixant, enregistrant ou transmettant, sans le consentement de celle-ci, l’image d’une personne se trouvant dans un lieu priv\u00e9. \u00bb<\/span><\/p>\n

Article 226-2 also provides as an offence:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00ab Le fait de conserver, porter ou laisser porter \u00e0 la connaissance du public ou d’un tiers ou d’utiliser de quelque mani\u00e8re que ce soit tout enregistrement ou document obtenu \u00e0 l’aide de l’un des actes pr\u00e9vus par l’article 226-1. \u00bb<\/span><\/p>\n

It is to be noted that in France \u201cla divulgation ou l\u2019utilisation de tout enregistrement ou document obtenu \u00e0 l\u2019aide de l\u2019un des actes pr\u00e9vus \u00e0 l\u2019article 226-1 du code p\u00e9nal \u00bb is understood \u00ab tr\u00e8s largement \u00bb [vide VIE PRIV\u00c9E (Atteintes \u00e0 la) in R\u00e9p. P\u00e9n. Dalloz at para. 58] :<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLe l\u00e9gislateur entend tr\u00e8s largement ce terme puisqu\u2019il le d\u00e9finit comme le fait de porter ou de laisser porter \u00e0 la connaissance du public ou d\u2019un tiers le document ou l\u2019enregistrement illicitement obtenu. La divulgation recouvre donc non seulement la communication au public, \u00e0 savoir la publication, mais encore la simple communication \u00e0 un tiers isol\u00e9. Tous les modes de communication tels que la radio, la t\u00e9l\u00e9vision, la projection d\u2019un film, la presse \u00e9crite ou encore les courriels peuvent \u00eatre le vecteur d\u2019une telle divulgation. Cet encadrement du droit de divulgation constitue ici une limite \u00e0 la libert\u00e9 d\u2019information, justifi\u00e9e par l\u2019atteinte \u00e0 la vie priv\u00e9e qui a pr\u00e9sid\u00e9 \u00e0 l\u2019enregistrement. C\u2019est ainsi que la publication de la photographie d\u2019une personne prise de l\u2019ext\u00e9rieur, \u00e0 son insu, \u00e0 travers la fen\u00eatre ferm\u00e9e de son appartement, constitue bien une divulgation illicite (Cass. crim. 25 avr. 1989, Bull. crim., no 165, Rev. sc. crim. 1990.78, obs. Levasseur). De m\u00eame, l\u2019hebdomadaire l\u2019\u00c9v\u00e9nement du jeudi a \u00e9t\u00e9 condamn\u00e9 pour avoir port\u00e9 \u00e0 la connaissance de ses lecteurs des extraits de l\u2019enregistrement clandestin d\u2019une conversation t\u00e9l\u00e9phonique dans un lieu priv\u00e9 (CA Paris, 4 juill. 1990, Gaz. Pal. 1991.2, jur. 446). Enfin, on peut encore citer la condamnation de l\u2019hebdomadaire qui avait publi\u00e9 deux photographies parues en doubles pages repr\u00e9sentant Fran\u00e7ois Mitterrand sur son lit de mort, sans avoir recueilli le consentement des ayants droit de celui-ci (TGI Paris, 13 janv. 1997, D. 1997.255, note Beignier, JCP 1997. II. 22845, note Serna ; conf. par CA Paris, 2 juill. 1997, D. 1997.596, note Beignier ; rejet par Cass. crim., 20 oct. 1998, no 97-84.621, Bull. crim., no 264, D. 1999.106, note Beignier, JCP 1999. II. 10044, note Loiseau, Dr. p\u00e9nal 1999, comm. 18, obs. V\u00e9ron). Dans cette affaire, le moyen de d\u00e9fense tir\u00e9 du droit \u00e0 l\u2019information du public a \u00e9t\u00e9 jug\u00e9 inop\u00e9rant par la Cour de cassation qui estime que \u00abla fixation de l\u2019image d\u2019une personne vivante ou morte, sans autorisation pr\u00e9alable des personnes ayant pouvoir de l\u2019accorder est prohib\u00e9e, et que la diffusion ou la publication de ladite image sans autorisation entre n\u00e9cessairement dans le champ d\u2019application des articles 226-1 et 226-2 du code p\u00e9nal \u00bb.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is no guarantee, given the frantic pace at which the media including the social media is developing, of any restraint as to what constitutes information in the public interest. Our legislators may consider enacting provisions similar to those of the French Article 226 as recommended in the Action Plan. Nevertheless, a balance will have to be struck between freedom of expression, the duty to act responsibly and the right to privacy. In the best interests of all concerned these are matters best left to the wisdom of an independent judiciary.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

* Published in print edition on 29 August 2014<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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