Barely adopted, already delegitimized? The app Olvid, which is intended to replace other instant messaging among members of the governmentis criticized because of its use of Amazon servers.
Can a French app, promoted by the government and expected to become the preferred communication channel for ministers, use Amazon services? It would seem so, if we are to believe the debates surrounding the Olvid software. This service, designed to replace WhatsApp within the highest echelons of the state, stores data on Amazon Web Services (AWS) servers even though this contravenes government doctrines and goes against the efforts of ” digital sovereignty “.
Face-saving encryption
To clarify this situation, Philippe Latombe (MoDem deputy), therefore questioned the Prime Minister about the exemption from which Olvid benefits, which allows it not to use a server certified by the National Security Systems Agency. information (ANSSI). As noted by former journalist and current director of legal affairs at Clever Cloud Guillaume Champeau, Olvid is in fact exempt from obeying the “cloud at the center” doctrine, which requires that a government communication solution must be operated via servers labeled “SecNumCloud” due to their immunizations against non-European laws.
According to the circular signed by the hand of Elisabeth Borne, “ data likely to pass through commercial infrastructures being end-to-end encrypted […] And […] deleted as soon as a message is delivered », Olvid can therefore host its data at Amazon without any worries. Note that the metadata is also encrypted, which further limits the data accessible by the host. Only the nicknames of the interlocutors are visible.
A complicated transition
It should be noted that the use of a non-European host is one of the points criticized by WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram and others. Enough to provoke the ire of the CEO of Signal (which also uses AWS in an encrypted manner) who explained that its application is also “ independently audited, open source and widely proven for 10 years “.
The ministers do not seem quite ready to switch to Olvid anyway, as proven by an article in Le Canard Enchainé shared by journalist Raphaël Grably. There is a quote from a minister explaining that he “ We should avoid boring ourselves with bullshit. We will continue to use WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal because it is much simpler “. To the wise.
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Olvid is a French messaging application. Its approach to security and confidentiality reflects high standards, often associated with European technological innovations, particularly with regard to the protection of personal data and user privacy. This French anchorage also contributes to its reputation as a secure and reliable alternative to more traditional messaging applications.
Olvid is a French messaging application. Its approach to security and confidentiality reflects high standards, often associated with European technological innovations, particularly with regard to the protection of personal data and user privacy. This French anchorage also contributes to its reputation as a secure and reliable alternative to more traditional messaging applications.
Source: Twitter – Philippe Latombe, William Champeau, Meredith Whittaker, Raphael Grably
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