French Surveillance Program Like PRISM: Le Monde Report

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around allegations of a French surveillance program similar to the U.S. PRISM program, as reported by Le Monde. Participants explore the implications of such surveillance practices, comparing the functionalities and purposes of the French program and PRISM, while also addressing the broader context of government surveillance.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that the French surveillance program is alleged to be similar to PRISM, with a focus on metadata collection from various electronic communications.
  • Others argue that the Le Monde article suggests significant differences between the French program and PRISM, particularly in terms of data collection methods and capabilities.
  • One participant expresses skepticism about the idea that governments would use social media for sensitive communications, implying that such actions would indicate incompetence.
  • There is a recurring sentiment that government surveillance is a common practice among nations, regardless of their alliances.
  • A participant mentions the potential for further revelations about the French program's functionality in the future, indicating uncertainty about its full capabilities.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express differing views on the similarities and differences between the French program and PRISM, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved regarding the extent and nature of the surveillance practices.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights varying interpretations of the Le Monde report, with some participants emphasizing the need for further information to clarify the functionalities of the French surveillance program.

aquitaine
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So now it has been alleged that the French have a surveillance program that's virtually the same as PRISM.


PARIS (AP) — A leading French newspaper says France's intelligence services have put in place a giant electronic surveillance gathering network.

Citing no sources, the Le Monde daily says France's Direction Generale de la Securite Exterieure, the country's foreign intelligence agency, systematically collects information about all electronic data sent by computers and telephones in France, as well as communications between France and abroad.

According to Le Monde, data on "all e-mails, SMSs, telephone calls, Facebook and Twitter posts" are collected and stored in a massive three-floor underground bunker at the DGSE's headquarters in Paris. The paper specified that it is the communications' metadata — such as when was call was made and where an author was when she sent an email — that is being archived, not their content.

Officials at the DGSE did not answer phone calls or emails seeking comment Thursday.


Did anyone really think normal governments don't spy on each other, even if they are allies?
 
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Every country has it's surveillance, anyone not aware of that is naive beyond words.
 
aquitaine said:
So now it has been alleged that the French have a surveillance program that's virtually the same as PRISM.

The article you linked pretty much suggests the exact opposite and claims they are very different:

"Le Monde compared the French digital dragnet to PRISM, the U.S. National Security Agency program which has most caught the imagination of Internet users. But PRISM appears aimed at allowing U.S. spies to peel data off the servers of Silicon Valley firms — whereas the program described in Le Monde appears to be fed through the mass interception of electronic data bouncing across the world.

Also, PRISM can apparently be used to collect content, not just metadata."

I suppose, we will find out the full functionality and whether they are similar or not in the following weeks. I would be surprised, if the full functionality of that program has already been revealed.

aquitaine said:
Did anyone really think normal governments don't spy on each other, even if they are allies?

No, but I do not think that it is the purpose of PRISM and this system to spy on governments. If there really are governments discussing secret and classified stuff via Facebook, Twitter, Skype or mail, that would be an incredible display of incompetence.
 
aquitaine said:
So now it has been alleged that the French have a surveillance program that's virtually the same as PRISM.





Did anyone really think normal governments don't spy on each other, even if they are allies?
Thank goodness for that. There is nothing quite like having one your allies being caught firmly with it's fingers in the same cookie jar to divert the spotlight and mitigate your own wrongdoing.
Must be the reasonable thing to do!