In Toulouse, these antivax posters in the sights of the authorities
VALENTINE CHAPUIS / AFP
An antivax poster plastered in the agglomeration of Toulouse.
HEALTH – ” Covid vaccines. A cardiovascular accident for 100 injections. The health of our children is worth more than experimental vaccines.” Classic anti-vax gibberish, except it’s not shared in obscure conspiratorial Telegram loops, but displayed on huge billboards in Toulouse.
On the initiative, figures from the antivax sphere, such as the Réinfo Covid and Réinfo Liberté collectives, which are very active online. Unsurprisingly, these misleading (and potentially dangerous for public health) visuals made health professionals jump, and all eyes turned to the town hall to have these posters removed.
Mr. Mayor @jlmoudenc you cannot leave this misleading and manipulative product communication unpunished… https://t.co/CRhzB34Ski
— DrMartyUFML-S (@Drmartyufml)
Problem: the Toulouse municipality finds itself legally unable to do anything, since these illustrated posters are in the private domain and do not present any disturbance to public order. “We have not received any complaints about these posters, but we are still working with our legal services, as well as with the prefecture to find out if another lever is possible to remove these posters”said the town hall, quoted by Consult the news.
For its part, the prefecture of Haute-Garonne confirms that it does not intend to sit idly by. ” The prefect asked the security forces to draw up reports of findings in order to determine very precisely the locations of these posters. “Explains the prefecture in a press release issued on Wednesday August 17, threatening to sue the authors of these visuals as well as those who make their panels available.
” In view of the possible consequences of this disinformation campaign in terms of public health, the prefecture, the ARS and the departmental order of doctors examining the legal avenues likely to be pursued against the authors of these posters and those who left them affix”, notify the prefecture.
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