Facebook blocks live stream death of dying man who advocated for euthanasia

Alain Cocq, 57, will be dead within days from an incurable disease, but he had one final wish before he goes. Facebook has blocked it.

Facebook has blocked Alain Cocq’s account from live streaming.

Facebook has blocked a French man who wanted to live stream his death to protest the country’s euthanasia laws from doing so.

Alain Cocq, 57, is dying from an incurable disease that causes his arterial walls to close and stick together.

On Saturday, he announced he had eaten his final meal and stopped taking his medication, aside from painkillers.

Alain Cocq in his Dijon flat, waiting for death. Picture: Philippe Desmazes/AFP

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Rather than wait for death, Mr Cocq sought to end his life on his own terms, writing to French President Emmanuel Macron to ask for a substance that would allow him to die before his body finally gave up on its own.

Mr Macron told Mr Cocq he had the President’s “personal support and profound respect”, but said he couldn’t allow him to take his own life or have assistance to do so.

“Because I am not above the law, I am not able to comply with your request,” Mr Macron said in a letter to Mr Cocq.

“I cannot ask anyone to go beyond our current legal framework … Your wish is to request active assistance in dying which is not currently permitted in our country,” he added.

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French President Emmanuel Macron was sympathetic but unable to help. Picture: Julien De Rosa/AFP

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Following the news that not even the country’s President could help him end his life, Mr Cocq announced he would live stream his death on Facebook protest France’s euthanasia laws.

“Although we respect (Mr Cocq’s) decision to want to draw attention to this complex question, following expert advice we have taken measures to prevent the live broadcast on Alain’s account,” a Facebook spokesman told AFP.

The same rules and policies Facebook frequently struggles to actually enforce, “do not allow us to show suicide attempts”, the spokesman said.

Mr Cocq is seeking to end his own life because he is dying from an incurable disease.

The irony of Mr Cocq’s situation is that if he hadn’t told anyone he was going to live stream his death to draw attention to France’s euthanasia laws, he likely would have been able to.

In July, a UK gym owner and anti-drug advocate was sent “support resources” after announcing he was going to end his life on the platform, causing concerned friends and family to contact Facebook.

Jonathan Bailey, 50, then reportedly live streamed his suicide, which was later removed.

Mr Cocq broke the news to his Facebook followers on Saturday night.

He’s called on his followers to write to politicians and Facebook. Picture: Philippe Desmazes/AFP

“Facebook is blocking me video streaming until September 8th,” he said, “it’s up to you.”

He went on to list the address for Facebook’s French office.

“Don’t fail to let Facebook know about its methods of unrelated discrimination and obstacle to freedom of expression, a right that is imprescriptible to all French and European citizens,” Mr Cocq wrote.

“Call your French and European MEPs, your senators, the government, the presidency of the Republic to protest against Facebook’s violation of this fundamental right, so that it ceases immediately,” Mr Cocq wrote.