The French Senate has decided to include the "casseurs-payeurs" law in its agenda for October, even though the Council of State, which advises the government on legal matters, has raised concerns. The Council argued that individuals should not be held responsible for actions they did not personally commit. The new law is meant to support the existing "Ripost" law, introduced in September 2023, which was seen as not offering enough financial protection to local authorities, the state, and businesses against damage caused by protests. The "casseurs-payeurs" law would expand liability by introducing a rule called "collective liability." This means that everyone present at a violent protest could be held responsible for damages, not just the people who actually committed violence. Those who were nearby or associated with vandals could also be liable. The maximum compensation each person might have to pay is set at 10,000 euros. The law also allows for the seizure of social benefits, such as unemployment or disability payments, to cover damages. However, the government has said it does not support this part of the proposal. For minors who are involved in vandalism, the law suggests a different approach: instead of making them pay money, they would be required to participate in activities that benefit the public, such as community service, to help repay the damage they caused. The idea behind "casseurs-payeurs" has been around since 2019, but it has not been widely applied. This was highlighted in May of last year when there was significant damage in Paris after Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League for the second time. The situation showed how difficult it has been to enforce the principle in practice.