Background
Farmer Jean-Michel Aycaguer was arrested when scuffles broke out at a public demonstration. He was accused of striking out at police with an umbrella.
In March 2008, a French court sentenced Jean-Michel to two months’ imprisonment, suspended, meaning that he was spared jail.
Nine months later, police asked Jean-Michel to provide a DNA sample. He refused to do so. Because of this, he later received a €500 fine.
Jean-Michel appealed against what he thought was an unfair breach of his privacy. He did not want to have his unique personal data stored on a police database for up to 40 years, as provided for by the law.
The French courts, however, rejected Jean-Michel’s appeal.