Law enforcement authorities in France may soon possess extensive surveillance capabilities to monitor alleged criminals. The National Assembly of France has approved a bill that empowers the police to remotely activate cameras, microphones, and GPS location systems on phones and other devices to surveil suspects. However, the use of these powers will require judicial authorization, and the recently amended bill explicitly prohibits their application against journalists, lawyers, and other “sensitive professions,” as reported by Le Monde. The legislation aims to limit their usage to serious cases and for a maximum duration of six months. Geolocation capabilities will be restricted to crimes punishable by at least five years in prison.
Although an earlier version of the bill passed in the Senate, the amendment requires approval from the legislative body before it can be enacted into law.
