Monday, April 13, 2015

France's govt wants emergency surveillance powers

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/apr/13/frances-govt-wants-emergency-surveillance-powers/

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls called Monday for emergency government surveillance powers in case of an exceptional threat, a move prompted by the deadly Paris attacks earlier this year.

In a speech in Parliament, Valls urged a new intelligence bill for extraordinary measures that would be used only "in case of major crisis affecting the citizens' security." The law would allow intelligence services to use surveillance powers without submitting a request to an independent nine-person panel, as normally required.
 
Lawmakers on Monday started debating a bill aimed at legalizing broad surveillance of terrorism suspects.
 
The proposal caused an outcry from some privacy advocates, human rights groups, a magistrates' union and the Paris bar association, despite the government's efforts to distance itself from U.S.-style mass surveillance. A group of 10 organizations denounced it Monday in a joint statement as "legalizing highly intrusive surveillance methods" with "no guarantee for individual freedom and privacy protection."
 
The bill was proposed long before the Paris attacks by Islamic extremists in January. But Valls said it takes on added urgency with each person who is radicalized and turns against France.

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