French concerned over draft bill to track suspects via digital devices

By Esra Taskin

PARIS (AA) – French people have expressed concern over the justice reform bill, believing that police will be given more authority to target citizens' liberties.

The French parliament adopted a draft bill on justice reform on Tuesday, which, if put into effect, will allow authorities to secretly access suspects' computers, phones, and other devices through their cameras and microphones.

Although the tracking period is limited to six months, this means that devices used on a daily basis will become spying tools, local lawyer Rafik Chekkat told Anadolu.

"This not only implies a disregard for private life but also a violation of freedom of action and communication privacy," Chekkat explained.

The lawyer expressed concern that those investigation methods might find their way into daily life, fearing that measures used to combat terrorism would also be used against rights activists.

If the legislation becomes law, this measure will be used for crimes and infractions punishable by 10 years in prison, such as terrorism and organized crime.

Brayan Silliau, a French resident, deplored the reform bill for undermining civil liberties by giving police more authority.

Citizens are not well-informed about the draft bill, according to Silliau, who believes that France is becoming more and more authoritarian.

Rihad Behachlafhak, 23, believed that the bill's boundaries should be defined and that it should only be used against criminals.

- Justice reform​​​​​​​

The French lower chamber of the house adopted a draft bill allowing authorities to remotely monitor suspects via cell phones during investigations.

Following a debate on Tuesday, 388 members of the National Assembly voted in favor of the judicial reform measure, which, if signed into law, will allow authorities to covertly activate the microphones and cameras of cell phones, computers, and other digital devices belonging to suspects in terrorism and organized crime cases.

Local media reported that 111 lawmakers opposed the draft bill, adopted last month in the Senate after it was submitted by Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti.

A commission of seven National Assembly members and seven senators will now examine it.

*Writing by Nur Asena Erturk in Ankara