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French Parliament discusses new law on surveillance

Tuesday, 14 April 2015 2:05 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 14 April 2015 2:04 AM ]

French Prime minister Manuel Valls attends a session of questions to the government on April 8, 2015 at the French National Assembly in Paris. AFP PHOTO / LOIC VENANCE

Anustup Roy
Press TV, Paris

For the French, the Charlie Hebdo attacks came as a massive shock.And in the weeks that followed, the French government presented ambitious plans to prevent further terrorist attacks.The attackers in the Charlie Hebdo shootings were French nationals and were found to have connections with the ISIL terrorist group.

Now the French Parliament has come with a new law that aims to catch those who have contacts with such groups.Inside the National Assembly, MPs are largely divided. They want several amendments to be taken into consideration before the bill becomes a law.Also campaigning against the bill are lawyers, rights groups and Internet freedom associations.

They say the law paves the way for mass surveillance and won’t prevent further terrorist attacks.The French Prime Minister has promised the new surveillance teams will face regular checks.But he hasn’t convinced these protestors.

They fear their letters will be opened and censured without their consent.Such deep rooted mistrust of the upcoming law stems from Wikileaks and the Snowden affair.How the government will allay this mistrust remains to be seen.

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