Top French court trashes ban on browsing pro-terrorism websites

The Constitutional Council, France's highest court, on Friday ruled as unconstitutional a law which bans regular browse of pro-terrorism websites.

The law penalising visitors of websites promoting terrorism was not constitutional, the council said, adding these surfing habits were not necessarily an evidence of "committing terrorist acts", Xinhua reported.

"The Constitutional Council has found that the contested law is an unnecessary, non-adapted, disproportionate infringement of communication freedom," it said in a statement.

The French top judicial court added the law cannot be applied on individuals who consulted extremist websites with "good faith" to inform public, make scientific research and seek for judicial purposes.

After Charlie Hebdo attack in January 2015, France passed the law banning people from frequently visiting pro-terrorism websites.

Introduced last June, the law sets a two-year prison sentence and a fine worth 30,000 euros ($31,800) if found guilty.

--IANS

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