Privacy · Online safety · French law
The legal framework in France
General information about French law concerning doxxing and disclosure of personal information.
02 · French law
The legal framework in France
French law addresses certain disclosures of identifying information when they are intended to expose a person to a direct risk of harm. The applicable rules depend on the facts and evidence.
The Samuel Paty case
The murder of teacher Samuel Paty following a campaign of denunciation and intimidation brought public attention to the dangers associated with the online exposure of identifying information.
Law reinforcing respect for the principles of the Republic
French Law No. 2021-1109 introduced, among other provisions, Article 223-1-1 of the French Criminal Code. Subject to specific conditions, it criminalises disclosing information that identifies or locates a person with the aim of exposing them to a direct risk of harm.
Other rules may apply
Harassment, threats, insult, defamation, invasion of privacy and personal-data protection rules may also be relevant. The legal requirements of each offence must be assessed separately.
Official legal sources
French Criminal Code — Article 223-1-1
Check the current wording on the official French legislation website.