Strauss-Kahn case sparks debate over media secrecy

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Attempted rape charges against IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn have unleashed a debate in France over a long tradition of ignoring philandering, and occasional sexual harassment of female subordinates, by men of power.

The French take pride in the fact that their media do not snoop into the private lives or sexual peccadillos of public figures, who are protected by tough privacy laws. Some even say politicians' womanizing is just a sign of a healthy libido. But some journalists are having second thoughts. The case has raised questions about whether allowing flirting and unwanted advances to go unreported may create an environment in which sexual predators can rise to within reach of France's top job.


Strauss-Kahn case sparks debate over media secrecy