UN criticizes ‘excessive’ French spy law as it goes into effect
The UN Committee for Human Rights has slammed France for adopting a
new surveillance law saying it grants “excessively broad surveillance
powers” to intelligence services. The country’s Constitutional Council
upheld the controversial law.
“The bill grants overly broad powers for very intrusive surveillance on the basis of vast and badly defined objectives,” the report published on Friday said, as cited by the Guardian. The committee (UNCHR) called on France to “guarantee that any interference in private life must conform to principles of legality, proportionality and necessity”.new surveillance law saying it grants “excessively broad surveillance
powers” to intelligence services. The country’s Constitutional Council
upheld the controversial law.
The
bill was passed by the French parliament in May and late on Thursday
was approved by the Constitutional Council – the highest authority on
constitutional matters.
“From now on, France has a security framework against terrorism that respects liberties. It’s decisive progress,” French Prime Minister Manuel Valls wrote in his Twitter.
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Numerous human right organization voiced strong criticism of the new law.
