Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti asserts that the powers granted by the bill would only be employed in “dozens” of cases per year and argues that this is far from an Orwellian surveillance state depicted in George Orwell’s novel, “1984.” The minister contends that the legislation will ultimately save lives.
The passing of this bill occurs against the backdrop of mounting concerns regarding government surveillance of devices. NSO Group, whose Pegasus spyware has allegedly been misused to spy on dissidents, activists, and even politicians, has faced significant backlash. Although the French bill has a narrower focus, it fails to provide reassurance to those apprehensive about potential government overreach.
