French Prime Minister Manual Valls introduced a new bill late last week that would allow intelligence agents to spy on suspected terrorists, even without a judge-issued warrant.
The bill would require telecommunication companies and Internet Service Providers to allow intelligence services to access metadata for later analysis, and authorities could keep that data for up to five years, according to France24. Additionally, agents would be able to install cameras, recording devices and keyloggers in suspected terrorists' homes.
Valls said during his unveiling of the bill that it was not the equivalent of the U.S. Patriot Act. Rather, it “makes clear that this enhanced monitoring will only concern terrorist communications, it demonstrates that there will be no mass surveillance.”
Surveillance endeavors would be justified and approved by the prime minister's office and would be limited in duration.
