French Plan for ‘Mega Database’ of Citizens’ Personal Data Triggers Protests

The French government is under fire for quietly issuing a decree establishing a mega-database of personal details of 60 million French citizens, a move privacy campaigners view as potentially dangerous.

The database established by the decree issued by Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve will affect every holder of a French passport or identity card, except for children under 12 years of age.

Information to be stored includes a photo, date and place of birth, address, eye color, weight and marital status. Fingerprints were to have been included too, although Cazeneuve dropped that plan amid massive criticism.

 

Read More: French Plan for ‘Mega Database’ of Citizens’ Personal Data Triggers Protests