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.
Civil liberties advocates have raised concerns about the potential implications of the bill. Digital rights group La Quadrature du Net has previously highlighted the risk of abuse, pointing out that the bill lacks clarity regarding what constitutes a serious crime. There are fears that the French government might exploit this ambiguity to target environmental activists and others who do not pose significant threats. The organization also highlights the tendency of worrisome security policies to expand into less serious offenses. La Quadrature notes that genetic registration, initially limited to sex offenders, is now employed for most crimes.
Furthermore, the group emphasizes that remote access may depend on exploiting security vulnerabilities. Instead of addressing these vulnerabilities with manufacturers to enhance security, police would potentially exploit security flaws, according to La Quadrature.
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.
