By Squadron Leader Matthieu AUDIBERT, the head of the Legal Doctrine and Foresight Department of the Ministry of the Interior’s Cyber Command

"The emergence of the Internet, the rise of high-speed connections, and the widespread use of digital tools have profoundly disrupted social practices. The vast majority of the French population has access to the Internet, and three-quarters own at least one connected mobile phone. At the same time, instant messaging applications and connected devices are constantly evolving. Criminals, too, have taken advantage of these technological developments, notably by increasingly relying on encryption techniques for communications and digital storage. Once a hallmark of organized crime, encryption now concerns all users. Closely linked to the revelations about American surveillance programs, encryption has become a commercial selling point heavily emphasized by service providers and digital device manufacturers. While essential to protecting the fundamental right to privacy and ensuring the security of information systems, encryption also poses a major obstacle to judicial investigations, as it can act as a genuine “wall” to the collection of digital evidence. (...)"

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