The French National Assembly adopted a justice reform bill on Tuesday that would allow law enforcement to remotely activate devices’ cameras, microphones and location services for investigations of terrorism, organized crime or crimes punishable by five or more years in prison. Remote activation requires a demonstrable need and approval from a judge on a case-by-case basis.
Proponents of the law argue it could improve law enforcement capabilities while critics say the law lacks sufficient privacy protections. French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti celebrated the law’s passage on Twitter, saying that the law will “turn the page on the vagrancy of justice, abandoned for more than 30 years.” French opposition party La France Insoumise accused the new law of being “liberticidal,” meaning that it endangers citizens’ liberty, and said that its goal is to “turn … devices into snitches.”
The bill is part of a broader justice reforms package, proposed as France seeks to improve security after past terror attacks and recent riots sparked by the police killing of a 17-year-old in the Paris suburbs. The country is preparing to host the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Paris. However, there are worries over potential misuse of powers by French police who have faced allegations of brutality and racism.
Article: France lawmakers pass bill allowing remote surveillance despite civil liberties concerns