MSDE launches legal database for environmental activists

The Movement for the Support of Environmental Defenders (MSDE) has created a new platform called Relaxes for life, which catalogs legal cases against environmental activists. This database aims to assist lawyers by providing detailed information on past trials, including charges, decisions, and penalties.

Database reveals rising legal repression

According to data collected by the MSDE and revealed by Vert, there has been a significant increase in legal repression against environmental activists since 2020. The MSDE reports that the State has imposed a flood of trials, with nearly two hearings per week on average since 2023.

Platform supports activists with legal resources

In response to this rise in legal action, the MSDE has focused on supporting activists being prosecuted. The platform provides useful legal resources for their defense, with the help of volunteers and data experts from Data for good. The database includes around 350 cases since 1994, with comprehensive information available from 2020 onward.

Legal cases show increasing activism and prosecutions

The data show that from 2020 to 2026, 860 individuals were involved in 303 legal procedures. The number of hearings has increased sharply, from 12 in 2020 to 90 in 2025, with 65 already recorded between January 1 and October 15, 2026. The types of activism under scrutiny have also shifted over time.

Groups and charges linked to specific actions

Between 2020 and 2023, legal cases primarily involved protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s portrait removals across France. From 2023 onward, the focus shifted to groups like Extinction Rebellion, Dernière Rénovation, and anti-A69 activists, who engaged in road blockages, paint throwing, and opposition to public works.

Charges vary in severity and impact

Most charges reflect the actions of the groups, such as "obstruction to traffic" or "degradation." However, some activists face more severe charges, such as "kidnapping" or "criminal association," which can carry heavy prison sentences. For example, members of the Earth Uprising were charged with these offenses after an intrusion into a concrete plant.

Penalties show a slight increase in severity

The MSDE has developed an index to measure the severity of legal decisions, ranging from 0.5 (acquittal) to 14 (imprisonment). The average score of convictions increased from 7.57 in 2022 to 8.89 in 2024, corresponding to higher fines and sometimes community service. Two notable cases in 2025 and 2026 involved imprisonment.

Acquittals rise despite increased prosecutions

Despite the increase in legal cases, the number of acquittals has also risen. In 2026, 58% of cases resulted in acquittals, according to Data for good. MSDE members suggest that some prosecutions are politically motivated, with charges often lacking solid evidence.

Repression appears politically selective

Camille from the MSDE notes that environmental activists are prosecuted for actions that farmers are not. For example, eight activists were placed in 46 hours of custody for tagging a bridge in 2025, while farmers who sprayed a prefecture with manure in 2024 faced no penalties.

Judicial decisions reflect legal and political tensions

Freedom of expression is the most common reason for acquittal, with 37% of cases dismissed on this basis. The judiciary has increasingly recognized the right to demonstrate, even as prosecutors aim to condemn political actions. A few acquittals are based on the "necessity" defense, though these are not yet definitive rulings.