Things are changing in Europe; at least in terms of visuals that individuals may or may not share on social media. Just ask Marine Le Pen, head of France’s National Front party. The far-right leader, who lost out to the Euro-centric Emmanuel Macron in last year’s general elections, today faces preliminary charges over Tweeting “violent images” of ISIS atrocities. These date back to 2015, which of course was the same year that the terror group went on a killing spree at the offices of iconic French satirical weekly, Charlie Hebdo. If convicted, Le Pen could be slapped with a three-year custodial sentence as well a hefty fine. At the heart of the controversy is her tweeting of ISIS execution videos. Among these were an image of the body of a decapitated American journalist. She later removed this upon a request from the family, saying she had been unaware of his identity. Though we wonder what difference that should have made. Meaning, to whom do the images of those who have been brutally murdered actually belong? We would like to think that such visuals, even once they have been put online by those with untold blood on their hands, remain the ‘property’ of the victims’ nearest and dearest. This is to say nothing of prevailing international provisions safeguarding against the committing of outrages upon personal dignity. And while we understand that the latter refers to mutilating dead bodies in armed conflict — we feel that this must also apply to voyeuristic killings, too; as well as the sharing of these images. Yet even here, this is not as clear-cut as it might be. After all, Le Pen contends that her posts were intended to underscore the barbarity of groups like ISIS. To show the citizenry what it is up against. Indeed, there is some merit it to this. But that being said, lines are becoming increasingly blurred when it comes to reflecting the horrors of war — regardless of which ‘side’ one is on — and its glorification. And ISIS and its ilk rely on the latter. Another unintended consequence is that such images provide just a single narrative. Meaning that politicians and mainstream news outlets risk fuelling reactionary terrorist propaganda. So what is to be done? If we want to put a stop to these sorts of videos and stills going viral — we must go to as close to source as possible. And this has to begin with traditional media. Maybe it is no longer suffice to show ‘censored’ footage; such as Saddam Hussein’s execution or else the bloody killing of Col Gaddafi. Or indeed, pictures of the former’s dead sons. Which leaves us with a collective media blackout. Sadly, in a contrived spin on the famous French saying: the more open the media becomes — the more closed it becomes. C’est la vie. * Published in Daily Times, March 2nd 2018.