Incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination

Verified 10 March 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Are you the victim of a piece of writing or a speech that incites others to have a hateful or violent reaction? It is a provocation to hatred, violence or discrimination. If these words or contents are made or exposed in public, the provocation is public. If they take place in a restricted or private space, the provocation is non-public. There are ways to report and ensure that perpetrators are punished. Here is the information you need to know.

Public provocation

Provocation (or incitement) public hate, violence or discrimination is a offense.

The perpetrator, through writing, image, video, etc., induces some people to have a malicious and hateful reaction against other individuals or groups of individuals due to characteristics such as:

  • Nationality
  • Religion
  • Ethnicity
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation
  • Disability.

Incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination shall be constituted if the perpetrator uses one of the following means:

  • Speech, shouts or threats
  • Writings, prints, drawings, engravings, paintings, emblems, images
  • Any other medium of writing, speech or image
  • Closets or posters
  • Publication by an online means of communication (internet).

Provocation is public when the words or content can be seen, read or heard by the public (for example, on a social network).

Warning  

Incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination should not be confused with the insult or the defamation.

If you are a victim or witness of a online publication inciting hatred, violence or discrimination, you can report to law enforcement. You can also report this content to the host of the site or of the platform concerned.

FYI  

There is no reporting mechanism when incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination has been committed outside the Internet.

How do I report hate-inciting content to law enforcement?

If you are a victim or witness of a publication on the internet inciting hatred, violence or discrimination, you can report to the police or gendarmerie from PHAROS: titleContent. This platform is open to adults and minors.

Report illegal internet content (internet-reporting: Pharos)

FYI  

PHAROS: titleContent does not deal with urgent cases. In case of emergency (example: infringement in progress), you can contact the police or gendarmerie at 17, the Samu at 15 or the firefighters at 18.

If the PHAROS teams believe that the content is unlawful, the report is forwarded to the competent authorities (e.g. investigation services of the National Police or the National Gendarmerie). An investigation may be conducted under the authority of public prosecutor.

In addition, the police and gendarmes may contact the host of the site or platform concerned and ask him to remove the content inciting hatred, violence or discrimination.

How do I report hate-inciting content to a site host?

The hosting providers must provide you with mechanisms to report content unlawful published on a website or online platform, when they consider it to be unlawful.Report abusive behavior on TikTok

These mechanisms must be easily accessible: you must be able to issue a report by electronic means.

Please note

It is not mandatory to have tried to contact the offender to report illegal content to the web host. You can directly report the facts to the host.

Social networks (Twitter,Facebook,InstagramSnapchat,, TikTok, etc.) generally have elaborate reporting systems that explain the situation and accurately report illegal content.

In the case of independent websites (e.g. the website of a company), the person who wishes to make a report must search for the host's contact details (e.g. email address).

FYI  

In general, the contact details of the host are found in the legal notice of the website.

The alert shall contain the following information:

  • Your identity and email address
  • Detailed explanation of why you believe the publication is unlawful
  • Information to identify the author of the offense (for example, the URL of the site)
  • Statement confirming that you truly believe the content is illegal
  • Possible steps taken to contact the perpetrator.

Following the report, the host must verify that the reported content is illegal.

If so, he must immediately notify the competent authorities (e.g. public prosecutor) and remove or block access to illegal content.

FYI  

If you have reported illegal content to the host and it has not deleted it, you can use a dispute resolution body. This organization will make proposals for you to reach an amicable agreement with the host. This process is paid for: the price varies depending on the organization you enter.

If you are a victim of incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination, you may engage in criminal liability of the perpetrator in lodging a complaint or making a direct quote. It is necessary that the facts directly caused you harm.

Direct quotation avoids a potentially lengthy investigation. However, writing a direct quote is subject to very strict rules. You are therefore strongly advised to hire a lawyer.

Warning  

Where the content inciting hatred, violence or discrimination is contained in a file published by an online means of communication, the publisher of the site or of the platform concerned shall be considered as the offender. So it's him who should be the subject of the complaint or the direct quote.

If you don't know the perpetrator, you can file a complaint against X (however, it's impossible no direct quotation). In addition, you have the possibility to engage the criminal responsibility of the host that has not completed its obligations.

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Complaint

The complaint must be filed within 3 months according to the commission of the facts. This period shall be extended to 1 year if the purpose of the provocation was for a person to commit murder, physical or sexual assault, theft, damage to property, etc.

The complaint may be lodged at a police station or gendarmerie brigade of your choice. You also have the possibility to send a letter to public prosecutor of the place where the events occurred.

On site

You can go to the police station or the gendarmerie brigade of your choice.

Who shall I contact

Warning  

At the time of filing a complaint, it is recommended to bring all the elements that demonstrate the offense suffered and that allow to identify the perpetrator of the facts (SMS, screenshot, testimonies, photographs, videos, etc.).

When filing a complaint, you can constitute a civil party with the aim of obtaining damages and interest.

Please note

An association that has been in existence for more than five years and which aims to combat racism or assist victims of discrimination based on their national, ethnic or racial origin, religion or sexual orientation may also become a civil party in your place, with your consent.

By post

To file a complaint with the public prosecutor, you must send a letter to judicial tribunal of the place of the offense or the domicile of the offender.

The letter must specify the following:

  • Civil status and full contact details (address and telephone number)
  • Detailed account of the facts, date and place of the offense
  • Name of the alleged perpetrator if you know him (otherwise, you file a complaint against X)
  • Name and address of any witnesses to the offense
  • Description and provisional or final estimate of the harm
  • Evidence documents (medical certificates, work stoppages, photographs, screenshots, videos, etc.)

In addition, you can mention that you want to constitute a civil party with the aim of obtaining damages and interest.

Please note

An association that has been in existence for more than 5 years and that proposes to combat racism or assist victims of discrimination based on their national, ethnic, racial origin, religion or sexual orientation may also be a civil party in your place, with your agreement.

It is possible to use a mail template:

File a complaint with the public prosecutor

The complaint can be sent by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (preferably), by simple letter or by followed letter.

It can also be deposited directly at the reception of the court.

In any case, a receipt is sent to you as soon as the public prosecutor's office has registered the complaint.

Direct Quote

If you know who the provocator is and if it's a natural person major or a legal person, you may directly bring an action before the competent court by a direct quote.

You have a period of 3 months from the commission of the facts. This period shall be extended to 1 year if the purpose of the provocation was for a person to commit murder, physical or sexual assault, theft, damage to property, etc.

Reminder

If the statement was made on an online communication medium, the direct quote must be directed at the director of publication. All media and professional websites must indicate the identity of the publisher.

When you write the direct quote, you have to be very specific. You must in particular indicate the following:

  • Identity and address of the commissioner of justice who will issue the citation
  • Identity and contact information of the person to whom the summons relates
  • The means by which the provocation took place and the type of incitement (e.g. public incitement to violence because of your sexual orientation). You must also demonstrate that the words, writings, videos, etc., incite hatred, violence or discrimination
  • Place and date of the infringement
  • Legislation that provides for the offense
  • Injury suffered and amount of such damage.

You also have an obligation to provide any evidence to prove the guilt of the alleged perpetrator and the harm suffered.

Once the direct quote is written, you must send it, by letter RAR: titleContent, to the court competent to obtain a date for the hearing (correctional courtfor a public incentive/police court for a non-public incentive).

Who shall I contact

Then, you must send the direct summons and supporting documents to the justice commissioner of the alleged offender's home.

Once the Commissioner of Justice issues the direct summons to the defendant, he shall give you an original of the summons. You must immediately deliver this document to the court office.

Finally, you have to pay a logging the amount of which is determined according to your income.

FYI  

When you quote directly, you become civil party. So you can get damages and interest in addition to the conviction of the defendant.

The perpetrator of incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination may be tried and sentenced to a criminal penalty by the correctional court. The same applies to the host who did not respect its obligations.

FYI  

Where the content that incites hatred, violence or discrimination is contained in a file published by an online means of communication, the publisher of the site or of the platform concerned shall be considered as the offender. So he's the one who's convicted. The person who incited hatred is considered the accomplice of the publisher.

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Sentences incurred by the author

The perpetrator of incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination is subject to criminal sanctions that differ according to his or her status: private individual, person in charge of public authority (e.g. police officer) or person in charge of a public service mission (e.g. bus driver).

Sentences incurred by an individual

The penalties are not the same depending on the purpose sought by the provocator:

General case
Main sentence

The perpetrator of incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination shall be punished by:

  • 1 year in prison
  • And €45,000 of a fine.

Warning  

If it is proved that a crime or a offense has taken place because of incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination, the perpetrator of the provocation is considered to be the accomplice the criminal or the offender. Thus, the instigator and the perpetrator of the crime or misdemeanor face the same penalties.

Additional penalties

The perpetrator may also be sentenced to additional penalties.

For example, if the offense was committed on the Internet, he or she would be liable to banishment of online platforms.

This sanction consists in banning him from the online platform from which he committed the offense.the offense. As soon as they are informed of this conviction, the providers of the online service concerned must block the author's accounts and ensure that he cannot create new ones.

Ec banishment is valid for a maximum period of 6 months. This period may be extended to one year in the event of recurrence.

Provocation to commit murder, assault, theft, etc.
Main sentence

The penalty is more severe when the purpose of the provocation is to commit certain offenses such as murder, rape, violence, sexual assault, theft, etc.

In such cases, the perpetrator of the incitement shall be punished by:

  • 5 years in prison
  • And €45,000 of a fine.

Warning  

If it is proved that a crime or a offense has taken place because of incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination, the provocator is considered to be the accomplice the criminal or the offender. Thus, the instigator and the perpetrator of the crime or misdemeanor face the same penalties.

Additional penalties

The perpetrator may also be sentenced to additional penalties.

For example, if the offense was committed on the Internet, he or she would be liable to banishment of online platforms.

This sanction consists in banning him from the online platform from which he committed the offense.the offense. As soon as they are informed of this conviction, the providers of the online service concerned must block the author's accounts and ensure that he cannot create new ones.

Ec banishment is valid for a maximum period of 6 months. This period may be extended to one year in the event of recurrence.

Sentences incurred by a public official

The penalties are not the same depending on the purpose sought by the provocator.

General case
Main sentence

The perpetrator of incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination shall be punished by:

  • 3 years in prison
  • And €75,000 of a fine.

Warning  

If it is proved that a crime or a offense has taken place because of incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination, the perpetrator of the provocation is considered to be the accomplice the criminal or the offender. Thus, the instigator and the perpetrator of the crime or misdemeanor face the same penalties.

Additional penalties

The perpetrator may also be sentenced to additional penalties.

For example, if the offense was committed on the Internet, he or she would be liable to banishment of online platforms.

That penalty consists in banning him from the online platform from which he committed the offense.the offense. As soon as they are informed of this conviction, the providers of the online service concerned must block the author's accounts and ensure that he cannot create new ones.

Ec banishment is valid for a maximum period of 6 months. This period may be extended to one year in the event of recurrence.

Provocation to commit murder, assault, theft, etc.
Main sentence

The penalty is more severe when the purpose of the provocation is to commit certain offenses such as murder, rape, violence, sexual assault, theft, etc.

In such cases, the perpetrator of the incitement shall be punished by:

  • 5 years in prison
  • And €45,000 of a fine.

Warning  

If it is proved that a crime or a offense has taken place because of incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination, the provocator is considered to be the accomplice the criminal or the offender. Thus, the instigator and the perpetrator of the crime or misdemeanor face the same penalties.

Additional penalties

The perpetrator may also be sentenced to additional penalties.

For example, if the offense was committed on the Internet, he or she would be liable to banishment of online platforms.

This sanction consists in banning him from the online platform from which he committed the offense.the offense. As soon as they are informed of this conviction, the providers of the online service concerned must block the author's accounts and ensure that he cannot create new ones.

Ec banishment is valid for a maximum period of 6 months. This period may be extended to one year in the event of recurrence.

Sentences incurred by the host

The penalties incurred by the host are not the same depending on whether it is a natural person or a legal person.

Host (natural person)

Hosting providers who refrain from removing or blocking access to content that incites hatred, violence or discrimination shall be liable to:

  • 1 year in prison
  • And €250,000 of a fine.
Host (legal entity)

Hosting providers who refrain from removing or blocking access to content that incites hatred, violence or discrimination shall be liable to a fine of not more than 6% of its annual worldwide turnover in the previous year.

If you have civil party (or an association has done it for you), you can get compensation from the convicted person.

If you do not want to enter the criminal courts or become a civil party, you have the possibility to make a claim for compensation before civil courts.

FYI  

Such a request may be directed at the person who incited the offense, possibly publisher and the host who did not respond to its obligations.

If you take the matter to the civil courts, no criminal sanction can be imposed. On the other hand, the person responsible may be ordered to pay you damages.

Non-public

Provocation (or incitement) non-public to hatred, violence or discrimination is a contravention.

The perpetrator, through writing, image, video, etc., induces some people to have a malicious and hateful reaction against an individual or group of individuals due to characteristics such as:

  • Nationality
  • Religion
  • Ethnicity
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation
  • Disability.

Incitement to hatred is constituted, inter alia, when the perpetrator uses one of the following means:

  • Speeches
  • Threats
  • Writings, engravings, paintings
  • Images
  • Video.

The incentive is non-public when it takes place within a defined and restricted circle (e.g. messages sent in a private conversation between colleagues, comments made during a family meeting).

Warning  

Non-public incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination should not be confused with the non-public insult.

If you are a victim of incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination, you can hold the perpetrator criminally liable by lodging a complaint or by making a direct quote. It is necessary that the facts directly caused you harm.

Direct quotation avoids a potentially lengthy investigation. However, writing a direct quote is subject to very strict rules. You are therefore strongly advised to hire a lawyer.

Warning  

Where the content inciting hatred, violence or discrimination is contained in a file published by an online means of communication, the publisher of the site or of the platform concerned shall be considered as the offender. So it's him who should be the subject of the complaint or the direct quote.

If you do not know the perpetrator, you can file a complaint against X (however, it is impossible not to quote directly).

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Complaint

The complaint must be filed within 3 months according to the commission of the facts. This period shall be extended to 1 year if the purpose of the provocation was to commit murder, physical or sexual assault, theft, damage to property, etc.

The complaint may be lodged at a police station or gendarmerie brigade of your choice. You also have the possibility to send a letter to public prosecutor of the place where the events occurred.

On site

You can go to the police station or the gendarmerie brigade of your choice.

Who shall I contact

Warning  

At the time of filing a complaint, it is recommended to bring all the elements that demonstrate the offense suffered and that allow to identify the perpetrator of the facts (SMS, screenshot, testimonies, photographs, videos, etc.).

When filing a complaint, you can constitute a civil party with the aim of obtaining damages and interest.

Please note

An association that has been in existence for more than five years and which aims to combat racism or assist victims of discrimination based on their national, ethnic or racial origin, religion or sexual orientation may also become a civil party in your place, with your consent.

By post

To file a complaint with the public prosecutor, you must send a letter to judicial tribunal of the place of the offense or the domicile of the offender.

The letter must specify the following:

  • Civil status and full contact details (address and telephone number)
  • Detailed account of the facts, date and place of the offense
  • Name of the alleged perpetrator if you know him (otherwise, you file a complaint against X)
  • Name and address of any witnesses to the offense
  • Description and provisional or final estimate of the harm
  • Evidence documents (medical certificates, work stoppages, photographs, screenshots, videos, etc.)

In addition, you can mention that you want to constitute a civil party with the aim of obtaining damages and interest.

Please note

An association that has been in existence for more than 5 years and that proposes to combat racism or assist victims of discrimination based on their national, ethnic, racial origin, religion or sexual orientation may also be a civil party in your place, with your agreement.

It is possible to use a mail template:

File a complaint with the public prosecutor

The complaint can be sent by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (preferably), by simple letter or by followed letter.

It can also be deposited directly at the reception of the court.

In any case, a receipt is sent to you as soon as the public prosecutor's office has registered the complaint.

Direct Quote

If you know who the provocator is and if it's a natural person major or a legal person, you may directly bring an action before the competent court by a direct quote.

You have a period of 3 months from the commission of the facts. This period shall be extended to 1 year if the purpose of the provocation was for a person to commit murder, physical or sexual assault, theft, damage to property, etc.

Reminder

If the statement was made on an online communication medium, the direct quote must be directed at the director of publication. All media and professional websites must indicate the identity of the publisher.

When you write the direct quote, you have to be very specific. You must in particular indicate the following:

  • Identity and address of the commissioner of justice who will issue the citation
  • Identity and contact information of the person to whom the summons relates
  • The means by which the provocation took place and the type of incitement (e.g. public incitement to violence because of your sexual orientation). You must also demonstrate that the words, writings, videos, etc., incite hatred, violence or discrimination
  • Place and date of the infringement
  • Legislation that provides for the offense
  • Injury suffered and amount of such damage.

You also have an obligation to provide any evidence to prove the guilt of the alleged perpetrator and the harm suffered.

Once the direct quote is written, you must send it, by letter RAR: titleContent, to the court competent to obtain a date for the hearing (correctional courtfor a public incentive/police court for a non-public incentive).

Who shall I contact

Then, you must send the direct summons and supporting documents to the justice commissioner of the alleged offender's home.

Once the Commissioner of Justice issues the direct summons to the defendant, he shall give you an original of the summons. You must immediately deliver this document to the court office.

Finally, you have to pay a logging the amount of which is determined according to your income.

FYI  

When you quote directly, you become civil party. So you can get damages and interest in addition to the conviction of the defendant.

A person who incites hatred, violence or discrimination may be tried and sentenced to criminal penalties by the police court.

He is liable to a fine of €1,500. It can be extended to €3,000 in the event of recurrence.

If you have civil party (or an association has done it for you), you can get compensation from the convicted person.

If you do not want to enter the criminal courts or become a civil party, you have the possibility to make a claim for compensation before civil courts. In this case, no criminal sanction may be imposed. On the other hand, the person responsible may be ordered to pay you damages.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • To be informed as a victim of an offense

    This service allows victims of infringements (excluding damage to property on the internet) to be listened to and referred to a victim support association or a specialized service. It is accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people.

    In metropolitan France

    116,006

    Free call

    Service available every day of the year, from 9am to 8pm.

    Outside metropolitan France (or from the foreigner)

    + 33 (0)1 80 52 33 76

    Free call

    Service available every day of the year, from 9am to 8pm (Paris time).

    By email

    By email: victimes@116006.fr

  • To get help in the face of violence on the internet

    To ask your questions anonymously and confidentially about online harassment (cyber-harassment).

    By phone

    3018

    Open 7 days a week, from 9am to 11pm

    Free and anonymous call

    Website

    e-enfance.org

    App Store and Google Play

    The 3018 application is also available from the App Store and Google Play.

  • To be accompanied in cases of racism, anti-Semitism or racial discrimination

    SOS Racism

  • To take legal action against the perpetrator of the incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination

    Lawyer

FAQ