Photos altering the body shape of models be labeled “photographie retouchée,” or “retouched photo” in France. Magazines, websites and other publications that use altered images without disclosure face fines of up to €37,500, or $44,000.
As part of the new law, enacted in 2015 but being enforced on October 1st, 2017, models must also get a note from doctors declaring that they are not dangerously thin. “Exposing young people to normative and unrealistic images of bodies leads to a sense of self-depreciation and poor self-esteem,” said France’s health minister, Marisol Touraine in May.
Getty notes that “other changes made to models like a change of hair color, nose shape, retouching of skin or blemishes, etc., are outside the scope of this new law, and are therefore still acceptable.” As pop star Lorde, Christie Teigen and others have caustically noted in the past, however, photoshopping blemishes doesn’t exactly do wonders for young people’s self-esteem, either.
The situation with France’s body-image law is much like strict pollution regulations in California. While those were only implemented in one state, California has enough size and clout to impact the auto industry in the US and elsewhere. In this case, with Paris as the de facto couture capital of the world, the new law is already affecting the fashion industry generally.
