France is facing a series of challenges in 2023, with public unrest and clashes over pension reforms. And now, the French Assembly has passed a controversial bill that grants the police the power to remotely access cameras, microphones, and GPS systems on phones and other devices for surveillance purposes. This bill must gain the approval of the legislative body to become law, even though a previous version was passed by the Senate.
Before remotely activating a suspect’s camera, law enforcement agents will need a judge’s approval. It’s worth noting that this law will not be used against journalists, lawyers, and certain other professions. However, these assurances are met with skepticism from all corners of French society.
This development paints a dystopian picture of the present, where promises are made that this bill won’t be misused and will only be used in serious cases, with a maximum duration of six months per case. It would strictly apply to crimes that carry a minimum prison sentence of five years.
Despite these safeguards, civil liberties activists are concerned about potential privacy abuses. The digital rights group La Quadrature du Net warns that security policies of this nature tend to expand beyond serious crimes. The main concern is that the definition of “serious crime” can easily be manipulated and lead to excessive surveillance.
French Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti attempts to ease fears, claiming that these new powers will only be used in a few dozen cases each year. He also dismisses comparisons to George Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984.”
Adding to the unease is the memory of the Pegasus spyware scandal that erupted in 2021. The Israeli-made spyware, utilized by the Israeli police, targeted numerous individuals, including government officials and protesters. Pegasus infiltrated their mobile phones, extracting sensitive data and activating cameras and microphones for surveillance purposes. Fast forward to April 2023, and concerns arise over the potential existence of another spyware targeting devices, particularly iPhones.
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