The French senate has voted through a controversial new law which gives huge government agencies huge powers to snoop on citizens communications.
The Defence Bill 2014-2019 was passed yesterday in a tight 164-146 vote. According to French digital freedom activists [La] Quadrature Du Net, Article 13 of the act allows government agencies to:
- Authorise live capturing of data and documents (“that on request may be captured and transmitted in real time by operators and agents mentioned”) by hosting services and service providers.
- Allow the harvesting and capturing of “data and documents treated or stored by their networks or services” and not solely the connection data.
- Extend the list of public offices that may request surveillance, to include, for instance, the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
- Extend the reasons for which surveillance may be requested to include information related to “the scientific and economic potential of France” and the prevention of “organised crime and delinquency”
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It is still possible that courts may find the new powers unconstitutional. But it’s a grim fact that France and other European governments, even while we still debate the Guardian’s revelations on NSA surveillance, are determined to push through stronger snooping laws. […]
While you weren’t looking, France passed sweeping surveillance laws