French court clears social media tracking plan in tax crackdown

[rooster59]

French court clears social media tracking plan in tax crackdown

 

FILE PHOTO: French Minister of Public Action and Accounts Gerald Darmanin leaves the Elysee Palace following the weekly cabinet meeting in Paris, France, October 21, 2019. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

 

PARIS (Reuters) - France's government can pursue plans to trawl social media to detect tax avoidance, its Constitutional Court ruled on Friday, although it introduced limitations on what information can be collected following a privacy outcry.

 

The new rules, part of a broader law on tax changes passed by the lower house of parliament last week, add to the state's surveillance powers by letting it collect masses of public data, as part of a three-year online monitoring experiment.

 

Customs and tax authorities will be allowed to review people's profiles, posts and photographs on social media for evidence of undeclared income or inconsistencies.

 

The motion sparked concern from the French data protection authority, several advocacy groups and members of parliament, however, who challenged its implications for people's privacy.

 

The Constitutional Court, which could have stopped the provision in its tracks, said the law could risk compromising social media users' privacy and freedom of expression as drafted, but gave it the green light with caveats.

 

Authorities would have to ensure password-protected content on social media platforms was off limits, it said in its ruling.

 

The court added that authorities would only be able to use public information pertaining to the person divulging it online, and that regulators would have to closely monitor how the data was being exploited.

 

Budget Minister Gerald Darmanin recently played down the significance of the move and the outcry, saying authorities in Britain and the United States had similar powers.

 

(Reporting by Sarah White and Sophie Louet; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-12-28

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[tifino]

France is only just now doing it? 

 

Maybe le'presidente found out on social media that every other developed country has been on the ball for years...

[Cryingdick]

100% tariffs on French Cheese and wine. France lacks any tech on its own.

[sammieuk1]

Looks like he's got hold of my red torrent download folder but the blue one will take him years to watch????

[Bluespunk]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

 

Authorities would have to ensure password-protected content on social media platforms was off limits, it said in its ruling.

 

The court added that authorities would only be able to use public information pertaining to the person divulging it online,

So keep your mouth shut on public forums and you’re fine...for now.