Not a good sign.

I find it extremely interesting that this article is only being carried by computer magazines: MacWorld, InfoWorld, Slashdot, and MacCentral.

If this was in the US, it would make the headlines on every newspaper and magazine in the world!

This is the country that invented Democracy! Oh ... and Peugot.

Is this a sign of things to come?

I cant understand why they would do this.  Is it to protect the public or is it to try to cover up stuff?

I would hazard a guess (living just a few miles from the French border, and in a French-speaking country) that they are trying to stop 'happy slapping' ... the practice where some unbelievably sick  people physically attack complete strangers in the street, film the attack, and share it with their friends or post it on YouTube.

In fact it mentions that in the article.

There has been a growing number of 'happy slapping' incidents in this area, and people are seriously worried by it.

In a democracy your freedom to swing your arms about stops short of the next person's face.

There has been a growing number of 'happy slapping' incidents in this area, and people are seriously worried by it.

If they are trying to stop happy slapping, then that is like trying to kill a fly with dynomite.