European governments are increasingly looking beyond individual rioters to address the staggering costs of civil unrest, targeting both the parents of minors involved in violence and the digital platforms that facilitate it. This shift comes as the continent grapples with the financial fallout of recent protests, including damages in France estimated at over 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion). In just one weekend, police arrested nearly 2,400 people, and authorities reported that thousands of shops were looted or damaged, with fire gutting the 19th-century city hall in Limoges.
In France, the Senate approved a measure this week by a vote of 229-105 that could see family housing aid and other benefits used to cover damages caused by rioters. Under the proposed legislation, parents could be held financially liable for the actions of their children under 18. Additionally, the bill allows authorities to hold individuals who knowingly join groups preparing for violence accountable for up to 10,000 euros ($11,200) for damage caused by others. This includes those who remain at a scene after police have ordered a violent crowd to disperse. The bill, which now heads to the National Assembly where no bloc holds a majority, would permit the deduction of funds from family allowances, housing aid, the RSA—France’s minimum-income benefit worth up to about 650 euros ($730) a month—and even the back-to-school allowance. A minimum amount would remain protected for living expenses.
Critics, including human rights organizations like Amnesty International France, warn that such measures could disproportionately hurt the poorest families and discourage peaceful protest. Nathalie Godard of Amnesty International France stated that seizing these payments could have disastrous consequences for the poorest. Communist Senator Fabien Gay noted that at a typical deduction rate of 57 euros ($63) a month, it would take nearly 15 years to repay a 10,000-euro debt. Supporters, however, argue that victims—such as small business owners—deserve compensation and that taxpayers should not bear the burden of replacement costs. After riots in 2023, insurers paid 793 million euros ($888 million) on 16,400 claims, according to France Assureurs.
The push for accountability extends to Italy, where Premier Giorgia Meloni announced a security decree following looting in Milan. Emphasizing the principle of “Chi rompe paga” (you break it, you pay), the Italian government is targeting parents of minors, who could face fines of up to 1,000 euros ($1,120), with penalties doubling for repeat offenses unless they can prove they were unable to prevent their child's actions. Organizing protest violence, even online, now carries four to 12 years in prison in Italy.
As authorities attempt to curb future unrest, concerns remain about the effectiveness of these measures. Security expert Claudio Bertolotti noted that while holding parents accountable is a goal, fines alone may not deter teenagers influenced by peer pressure. Meanwhile, the threat of further unrest persists, with the Spanish fact-checker Maldita.es reporting calls for Halloween protests in 46 cities across at least nine European countries.
Some urge looting.Officials say the aim is to prevent the next riot and pay for the last.
“Behind that shop window there is a family that has invested a lifetime of sacrifices,” Premier Giorgia Meloni said Oct.
