French law making it mandatory to hand over encrypted data makes it to first round of voting

The French National Assembly, or lower house of parliament, has voted in favor of a law that could penalize companies for failing to provide access to encrypted data in the detection of terrorist crimes.

The provision, which can impose a fine of up to 350,000 euros or a prison sentence of up to five years for drivers, was added by amendment last week to a law aimed at reforming criminal law. The National Assembly voted on the entire bill on Tuesday, with 474 votes in favor and 32 against. However, this does not mean that the law has been passed, it still has to be approved by the upper chamber of the parliament, also known as the senate. After that, the president still has to sign it. Therefore, changes can still be made.

The amendment came a day after many tech companies rallied behind Apple’s refusal to allow the FBI access to an iPhone. The amendment ensures that companies must hand over encrypted data in the context of terrorist crimes. In an interview, the proposer of the amendment said that companies, including smartphone makers, should be obliged ‘to give access to the desired data and that investigative services can then determine the further technology themselves’. Nor would the intention be to break encryption, but to force cooperation.

There is therefore no question of applying a ‘backdoor’ to encryption, the French government spoke out against this in January.