Outcry over French Intelligence Bill

Despite the heated debates around the implications of the French Intelligence Bill on civil liberties introduced in March 2015 in the light of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, a tentative agreement between right and left would guarantee its adoption, according to reports from several media sources in April 2015.

As predicted, on the 5 May 2015 French parliamentarians in the National Assembly approved the new law. The bill will now go to the French parliament’s upper house, the Senate, in June 2015.

• Primary Source

RFI, 13.04.15: France’s new spy bill raises fears of mass surveillance http://www.english.rfi.fr/france/20150413-france-s-new-spy-bill-raises-fears-mass-surveillance

The Guardian, 13.04.15: French surveillance bill draws criticism from web firms and civil liberty groups http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/13/french-surveillance-civil-liberty-criticisms

France24, 19.03.15: France unveils ‘snooping bill’ in wake of Paris attacks http://www.france24.com/en/20150319-france-counter-terrorism-bill-surveillance/

EurActiv, 09.04.15: French surveillance legislation is off to a bad start http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/french-surveillance-legislation-bad-start-313616

Reporters Without Borders, 25.03.15: Human rights organisations alarmed by bill that will give surveillance agencies dangerous new powers http://en.rsf.org/france-human-rights-organisations-alarmed-25-03-2015,47728.html

Euronews, 14.04.15: French debate new legal tools against Internet terrorism and hackers http://www.euronews.com/2015/04/14/french-debate-new-legal-tools-against-internet-terrorism-and-hackers/

Human Rights Watch, 07.04.15: France: Bill Opens Door to Surveillance Society http://www.hrw.org/news/2015/04/06/france-bill-opens-door-surveillance-society

openDemocracy: digitalLiberties, 29.04.15: France’s Intelligence Bill: legalising mass surveillance https://www.opendemocracy.net/digitaliberties/f%C3%A9lix-tr%C3%A9guer/france%E2%80%99s-intelligence-bill-legalises-mass-surveillance

The Local.fr, 05.05.15: French MPs approve boosting spying powers http://www.thelocal.fr/20150505/france-law-spying-parliament

BBC News, 05.05.15: French parliament approves new surveillance rules http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32587377

Deutsche Welle, 05.05.15: French lawmakers vote for sweeping powers to spy on citizens http://dw.de/p/1FKcV

France24, 05.05.15: Lawmakers back spy bill dubbed ‘French Patriot Act’ http://www.france24.com/en/20150505-lawmakers-back-spy-bill-dubbed-french-patriot-act

EurActiv, 06.05.15: France plays down German spying accusations http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/france-plays-down-german-spying-accusations-314327

EUObserver, 05.05.15: France to adopt sweeping intelligence bill https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/128567

Politico, 12.05.15: French surveillance bill faces EU scrutiny www.politico.eu/article/french-surveillance-bill-faces-eu-scrutiny/

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