French Assembly Debates Controversial Anti-Narcotrafficking Bill

The proposed legislation includes expanded surveillance powers and stricter prison measures, sparking significant political and public debate.

The French National Assembly begins examining a contentious anti-narcotrafficking bill, with debates scheduled throughout the week and a vote set for March 25th.
Key measures include the creation of a National Anti-Criminality Prosecutor's Office and provisions to simplify criminal procedures and combat corruption linked to drug trafficking.
Proposals to extend surveillance powers, such as algorithmic monitoring and accessing encrypted messaging, face criticism for potentially infringing on civil liberties.
The bill also introduces a new regime of strict isolation for high-risk inmates, which has raised concerns from human rights organizations over its impact on detainees' well-being.
While initially passed by the Senate with broad support, the bill has divided lawmakers in the Assembly, with left-leaning parties opposing or abstaining on several contentious provisions.