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The Electronic Bastille

Posted by timothy on from the panoptiquonnes dept.

smooth wombat writes "Imagine a database whose aim is to centralize and analyze data on people aged 13 or above who are active in politics or labor unions, who play a significant institutional, economic, social or religious role, or who are 'likely to breach public order.' At first glance one might think the country in question is Russia or Zimbabwe but the truth is, it's a democratic nation which is implementing this database. Specifically, France. Now, with the summer break over and as the people of France return to work, there is a small but growing movement to storm this electronic Bastille. Michel Pezet, a lawyer and former member of a body charged with protecting French citizens from electronic prying, had this to say about this new data-gathering law: 'The Edvige database has no place in a democracy. There is nothing in the decree that sets limits or a framework. Whether the database is used with or without moderation depends only on orders from up high. The electronic Bastille is upon us.'"

3 of 267 comments (clear)

  1. Sorry... by alx5000 · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    How appropriate for the French to be submitting... their personal data, I mean.

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    My 0.02 cents
    1. Re:Sorry... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

      I was used to read slashdot as an uncensored media, I worry this was untrue my comment disappeared. Of course it was engaged and unobjective, but it is my actual frenchie opinion.
      I apologize for the inconvenience and I return to my policed country and its dumb people + assholes politicians

  2. Re:Truth: by butlerdi · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Just as Capitalism only work when there are sufficient number of poor and unemployed. Democracy is the same ... Carrot and Stick ....

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    "If the King's English was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me!" -- "Ma" Ferguson, Governor of Texas (circa