France to Possibly Introduce Warning Labels for Airbrushed Photographs

By Steve Delahoyde on September 23, 2009 6:49 AM

Back in April you might recall that we’d posted about the French edition of Elle publishing an issue of the magazine featuring stars and models with no makeup and no Photoshopping. A stunt for sure, though not nearly as bad as those awful, pandering Dove ads. While it seemed like just a one-off, it apparently had an effect on the consciousness of the French populace, as a potential law has been introduced that would require printed warnings over photographs that had been digitally manipulated to alter/slim a person’s body. Its purpose would be to curb anorexia, bulimia, and other illnesses created by the desire to look like the highly airbrushed, ultra-thin models and actors in magazines and on billboards. And should the law pass and the government doesn’t see a label? A massive fine that could be as high as “50 per cent of the cost of the publicity campaign.” Here’s a bit:

Campaigning MP Valerie Boyer, of President Nicolas Sarkozy‘s UMP party, said the wording should read:”Retouched photograph aimed at changing a person’s physical appearance”.

Mrs. Boyer, who has also written a government report on anorexia and obesity, added: “We want to combat the stereotypical image that all women are young and slim.