In France, senators have passed a bill that allows the cameras and microphones on suspects’ phones to be remotely activated and monitored.
The bill, called the “Law of Justice”, which has been discussed in the Senate since June 6, and which allows suspicious people to remotely interfere with their digital devices, was put to the vote.
The bill was passed with 231 “yes” votes to 13 “no” votes.
The bill, which covers the increase of the Ministry of Justice’s budget to 11 billion euros by 2027, includes the recruitment of 10 thousand additional civil servants in 4 years.
The bill includes setting up a unit of special teams to handle domestic violence cases in courthouses by next year.
MICROPHONE AND CAMERA WILL BE ENABLED
The 3rd article of the bill enables the microphones and cameras to be activated to record audio and video from the suspects’ digital devices such as phones, computers and tablets in cases such as terrorism and organized crime, and allows their locations to be monitored.
Some items of the bill, such as remote access to digital devices of suspects, will be made possible by a judge’s decision, which includes expanding the scope of night raids on addresses for serious crimes and allowing the government to extend the period of preliminary investigations under certain circumstances.
The bill covers the monitoring of the locations of the devices in “suspicious cases where 10 years imprisonment is foreseen”.
Lawyers, associations defending public and individual freedoms, and left-wing politicians criticize the bill on the grounds that it would “restrict freedoms and violate private life”.
The bill will be discussed in the National Assembly, the other wing of the French Parliament. (AA)