French Parliament Passes Draconian surveillance Law

Following the killings of 17 people at the Charlie Hedbo, satirical magazine in France, the French Parliament has accelerated surveillance powers, through which intelligence agencies could tap phones and emails sans the permission from a judge. With the new bill, the authorities are allowed to spy on the digital and mobile phone communications of anyone in the country. According to the bill, the internet service providers and phone companies are liable to grant data if wanted.

Meanwhile, protesters for civil liberties groups have organized a campaign against the new bill under the banner “24 hours before 1984″ alluding to George Orwell’s novel about life under the dictatorship. Amnesty International has already hinted at the danger of “extremely large and intrusive powers” sans jurisdiction.

However, despite the resistance from green and hard-left MPs, the bill was passed with the support of MPs from the socialist and right-wing UMP parties, who argued that it was necessary to address the terror threat. The bill was passed in the national assembly by 438 votes to 86.

interactive editor