Although most of the attention on Apple’s privacy standoff with the government has so far focused on the United States, the U.S. isn’t the only place where Apple’s fighting with the authorities over iPhone encryption.
In France, politician Yann Galut, a member of the country’s Socialist Party, has submitted an amendment to a bill designed to strengthen the French government’s fight against terror — by arguing that Apple should pay €1 million per smartphone if it does not “promptly” agree to unlock devices when asked to by law enforcement.
Last year, eight smartphones belonging to possible terrorists were unable to be accessed by authorities in France, provoking concern about data encryption.
“We are faced with a legal vacuum when it comes to data encryption, and it’s blocking judicial investigations,” Yann Galut said. “Only money will force these extremely powerful companies like Apple and Google to comply.”
Galut doesn’t seem to be all that clued-up about the issue in question, though. He claims that Apple is one of several companies, “hiding behind a supposed privacy protection, but … quick to make commercial use of personal data that they’re collecting.”
While this could certainly be argued with regards to Google, Apple has long taken a different approach to user data — most famously articulated when Tim Cook told Charlie Rose that, “[customers] are not our product,” during a television interview.
Source: TheLocal.fr
Via: Slashgear
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
6 responses to “Apple’s privacy policy could earn it massive fines in France”
That’s messed up. You make a great product that’s secure and you get fined because you can’t hack the password on a device you make? That’s the whole point of encryption and security is to prevent access. If Apple created a backdoor, then the hackers would find out and Apple would get sued if they didn’t fix the vulnerability. I don’t know if anyone will win with this.
Yeah, I can see both sides of the argument, but when the government has to enact legal proceedings instead of sitting down and talking, it makes it suspect of the larger picture.
For those that don’t speak Politik, I popped Galut’s quote into Google Translate: “The Government needs money!”
This is a money grab, pure and simple. If the government (US, French, or otherwise [with some exceptions]) were to approach Apple and/or Google with open arms for discussion, I’m sure they would be a lot more willing to sit down and talk and work something out. But, of course, there’s no profit in that…
Just another ignorant idiot politician trying to make money instead of learning and understanding the situation
Yup. But I guess that HIS iPhone should be VERY safe? Or?
Poke into verybody else’s smartphones – but not MINE!
By giving away the control, they are giving away control over their OWN stuff too….
But who is surprised? They are after all french.
Socialists ruin everything Capitalists create. This is merely the latest example.