2023-07-08 06:02:26
A bill has been passed that would allow police in France to spy on suspects by remotely activating cameras, microphones, including their phones’ GPS. The bill allows for the geolocation of crime suspects, which extends to other devices such as laptops, cars and devices connected to them, as well as the remote activation of audio and video recordings of people suspected of terrorist acts and criminal and organized crime. The bill will reportedly apply to suspects in crimes punishable by at least five years in prison. However, the provision “raises serious concerns regarding the violation of fundamental freedoms,” said La Quadrature du Net, a French advocacy group that supports digital rights and freedoms. “Given that digital devices play an increasingly important role in our lives, the very acceptance of the principle that they are transformed into police aids without us being aware of it is a serious problem in our societies,” the group said. Lawmakers adopted the bill late on Wednesday, while Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti insisted that the bill would only affect “dozens of cases a year”. the use of remote espionage is permitted “in cases justified by the nature and seriousness of the crime” and “for a strictly limited period of time”. They noted that any use of the provision would have to be approved by a judge, and the total period of monitoring might not exceed six months.
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