Press review
26 May 2023

Press review – Week of 22 May 2023

This week, the Parquet national financier (PNF - National Financial Prosecutor's Office) signed its 16th and 17th Convention Judiciaire d'Intérêt Public (CJIP - Public Interest Judicial Agreement) and the Comorian Minister of Foreign Affairs is suspected of having improperly benefited from social benefits in La Réunion island. Finally, in the field of personal data protection, Meta was fined a record €1.2 billion by the Irish Data Protection Commission.

 

Remote activation of mobile phones foreseen in the draft bill on the orientation and programming of justice raises questions

On 23 May, the French Minister of Justice presented his draft bill on the orientation and programming of justice to the Senate’s law commission. Article 3 of the draft bill contains provisions criticized by the Paris Bar Council regarding the remote activation of connected devices for the purposes of geolocation and recording of sounds and images in the event of proceedings for terrorism or organized crime. The French Ministry of Justice indicates that activation and recording should not be confused, as they do not have the same purpose. Besides, the draft bill also sets out the main objectives of the action plan for justice presented on 5 January. > Read article

 

Comorian Minister of Foreign Affairs suspected of €251,000 social benefits fraud in La Réunion island

Dhoihir Dhoulkamal, Comorian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his wife have been under preliminary investigation since November 2020 by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Saint Denis de la Réunion for social benefits fraud. The Minister allegedly concealed his income to allow his wife to receive the Revenu de Solidarité Active (RSA – Active Solidarity Income) and other benefits. He also benefits from the Couverture Maladie Universelle (CMU – Universal Health Protection) on La Réunion island. These revelations occurred within the context of negotiations for the restoration of maritime connections between France and Comoros, which was accepted by the Comorian President on 17 May. > Read article

 

Personal data: Meta fined a record €1.2 billion in Europe

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) fined Meta €1.2 billion for transferring personal data of European Facebook users to servers located in the United States. The company plans to appeal, describing the fine as “unjustified and unnecessary“. This sanction comes as the European Union and the United States finally reached an agreement on data transfer in March 2022. However, the legal framework has not yet been adopted. This fine sends a strong signal to other organisations involved in this type of practice. > Read article

 

Press release from the Parquet National Financier (PNF – National Financial Prosecutor’s Office) regarding its 16th Convention Judiciaire d’Intérêt Public (CJIP – Public Interest Judicial Agreement)

The president of the tribunal judiciaire de Paris (Paris judicial court) validated the 16th CJIP concluded between the PNF and the company Guy Dauphin Environnement for influence peddling. This CJIP follows a preliminary investigation entrusted to the office central de lutte contre la corruption et les infractions financières et fiscales (OCLCIFF – central office for the fight against corruption and financial and tax offences). The company will also be required to implement a compliance program for three years under the supervision of the Agence française anticorruption (AFA – French Anti-Corruption Agency). > Read article

 

Press release from the Parquet National Financier (PNF – National Financial Prosecutor’s Office) regarding its 17th Convention Judiciaire d’Intérêt Public (CJIP – Public Interest Judicial Agreement)

The president of the tribunal judiciaire de Paris (Paris judicial court) validated the 17th CJIP concluded between the PNF and two companies, Bouygues Bâtiment Sud-Est and Linkcity Sud-Est for offences including active bribery of public officials and concealment of favouritism. They committed to pay a fine of €7,964,000 to the Trésor public (French Treasury) and to implement a compliance program for three years under the supervision of the Agence française anticorruption (AFA – French Anti-Corruption Agency). > Read article

The French Minister for Public Accounts announces a plan to fight tax fraud

During a senatorial debate, after the publication by the Finance Commission of a report on the fight against tax fraud, Gabriel Attal, Minister in charge of public accounts, had publicly supported in January the measures proposed in the report, which call for a reinforcement of the fight against tax fraud. He recently presented a plan to fight tax fraud. > Read article

Related content

Press review
9 May 2025
Press review – Week of 5 May 2025
This week’s press review covers the resignation of François Commeinhes from his position as mayor of Sète, following his final...
Press review
2 May 2025
Press review – Week of 28 April 2025
This week’s press review covers the requisitions made against François Fillon in the fictitious employment case following a cassation ruling,...
Press review
25 April 2025
Press review – Week of 21 April 2025
This week’s press review covers the release of Prince Paul of Romania by French authorities, despite a European arrest warrant...
Press review
18 April 2025
Press review – Week of 14 April 2025
This week’s press review covers the extension of the investigation into Eric Garandeau for illegal taking of interest in the...
Press review
11 April 2025
Press review – Week of 7 April 2025
This week’s press review covers the European Parliament's vote to postpone the application of the CSRD to certain companies, as...
Press review
4 April 2025
Press review – Week of 31 March 2025
This week’s press review covers the 150 million euro fine imposed by the French Competition Authority on several subsidiaries of...
Press review
28 March 2025
Press review – Week of 24 March 2025
This week’s press review covers the summoning of Élysée Secretary General Alexis Kohler to a Senate committee of inquiry into...
Press review
21 March 2025
Press review – Week of 17 March 2025
This week’s press review covers the lawsuit filed by two NGOs against Carrefour for failing to exercise due diligence in...
Press review
14 March 2025
Press review – Week of 10 March 2025
This week’s press review covers the conviction of the Swiss bank UBS for moral harassment against whistleblowers, as well as...
Press review
7 March 2025
Press review – Week of 3 March 2025
This week’s press review covers an independent commission of enquiry set up by Betharram religious congregation, the Court of justice...
Press review
28 February 2025
Press review – Week of 24 February 2025
This week’s press review covers European news, including the adoption of the 16th package of sanctions against Russia, the suspension...
Press review
21 February 2025
Press review – Week of 17 February 2025
This week’s press review covers the decree signed by Donald Trump on corruption, the fine imposed by the Autorité des...