The French National Assembly passed a new law banning abortion information websites that appear to be neutral, but actually promote pro-life ideas.

The law would punish web operators who upload material that is "deliberately misleading, intimidating and/or exerting psychological or moral pressure," The Washington Free Beacon reports.

"In the view of the Socialists, the owners of websites and telephone lines — such as the Wire of Life established by the Droit de Naître — which inform women about the dangers of abortion and about avoiding recourse," reads a statement from French pro-life group Droit de Naître, meaning "Right to Be Born."

"The signatories of the petition initiated by Droit de Naître asked [French Interior Minister Bruno] Le Roux to abandon his project immediately [or] see his parliamentary group swept away during the next elections," the group said in an email.

Pro-life website IVG.net, which provides information on abortion alternatives, slammed the law as violating French citizens' civil rights.

"Extending the offense of obstructing voluntary termination of pregnancy is contrary to several fundamental principles guaranteed by French and international law, in particular the principle of the legality of offenses and penalties and the right to freedom of expression. It is a dangerous…text," reads a post on the website's blog.

Pro-choice activists view the law as an attempt to shutdown websites that "now act in a masked way, hidden behind platforms that appear neutral and objective and which copy and compete with official government information sites," according to French Minister Laurence Rossignol, and therefore "deliberately seeking to trick women."

"Everyone is free to affirm their hostility to abortion online or anywhere else, but on condition of doing it in all honesty, because freedom of expression can't be confused with manipulating people," Rossignol told Parliament, according to The Guardian.

"Thirty years ago, campaigners chained themselves to the gates of family planning clinics or operating tables to stop women accessing terminations. Today the next generation continues this battle online."