Protesters' signs confiscated by police

During student and youth protests on October 6 and 8, 2026, videos from journalists, including Radio Nova, show police taking signs from demonstrators at the start of marches. Slogans such as "They don't care about us" and "On veut le bac, ils nous ramènent la BAC" were removed from protesters' hands and stored in police vehicles. Some of the signs were reportedly stored in a RATP facility at Place de la Bastille.

Police claims of targeted orders

According to an investigation by Mediapart published on October 8, 2026, several police officers claimed they received orders from their superiors to target messages critical of the police and the state. The Ministry of the Interior has not responded to these claims.

Legal question on police authority

The legal question arises: Can the police decide which slogans are allowed in a demonstration? Can protesters write whatever they want on their signs?

Freedom of expression in French law

In principle, everyone is free to say and write what they want, as protected by Article 11 of the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. There is no prior censorship or control over this freedom. Police officers have no authority to determine which slogans are permissible in a demonstration.

Legal framework for seizure

The Press Freedom Act of July 29, 1881, sets strict guidelines. It prohibits certain public statements, such as insults, defamation, criminal incitement, and hate speech, as well as the apology for terrorism. Even in these cases, a police officer cannot informally seize a sign. To seize an object, they must prove the owner used it to commit an offense and issue a formal report.

Police checks for dangerous objects

However, police have the right to conduct checks to ensure the absence of dangerous objects, as outlined in Article L. 211-3 of the Internal Security Code. If the sign's support is a metal bar or a blunt object, it may be considered a weapon by purpose, as per Article 132-75 of the Penal Code.

Confiscated signs not deemed dangerous

In the videos reported, the confiscated signs do not fall into either category.

Administrative police regulations

In France, the Council of State strictly regulates the power of administrative police. In the 1933 Benjamin ruling, it stated that a preventive measure must be justified by the risk of public disorder and must be necessary, appropriate, and proportionate. Therefore, the removal of a sign cannot be justified solely by the critical or provocative nature of its message.

Previous criticism of sign confiscation

These practices of confiscation had already been criticized by the Defender of Rights. In a decision dated July 9, 2020, concerning operations to maintain order during the Yellow Vest protests, the institution noted that objects without danger, such as banners, had been seized. It also criticized the lack of a clear legal framework regarding their removal, storage, and return, which could infringe on the right to property.

European human rights protections

At the European level, the European Convention on Human Rights protects freedom of expression (Article 10) and freedom of assembly and demonstration (Article 11).

European court stance on free speech

The European Court of Human Rights has a clear stance on these freedoms: in its Eon v. France ruling on March 14, 2013, it reiterated that the use of satire and provocative or disrespectful slogans toward a leader is part of political debate.

Human rights organization reacts

The League for Human Rights announced on October 9, 2026, that it was examining "the legal avenues available" regarding these confiscations.