Around thirty deputies affiliated with the presidential majority tabled a new amendment, which this time advocates the banning of certain VPNs using smartphones.
Less than two weeks after dropping an amendment reeking of controversy aimed at banning VPNs on social networks, the deputies have just done what they are supposed to fight against: recidivism. Because yes, around 30 deputies from the Horizons and related group tabled an amendment attached to the bill, already adopted by the Senate, aimed at securing and regulating the digital space. This time, it is aimed at smartphones, through the Google Play and App Store stores.
MEPs attack VPN on smartphone
The elected representatives of the National Assembly, who will also debate the law from Wednesday October 4 at the Palais Bourbon, want to add a new article in two parts, which will modify the provisions of the law for confidence in the digital economy of June 21, 2004.
“ Software application stores ensure that the virtual private network (VPN) mobile applications that they offer, for a fee or free of charge, do not allow access to an internet network not subject to legislation and regulations. French or European “.
By ” software app stores », you will have understood that the deputies place in their sights the App Store, for the iOS universe; and Google Play, for the Android universe. The idea is to prohibit Google and Apple from offering applications and VPN-type software that are not directly subject to European and French laws.
The lunar justification of the deputies behind the amendment
Elected officials are therefore counting on the two American giants to carry out a major clean-up, each in their respective store. And if one or the other were tempted by the idea of not collaborating and not sorting, he would be “ punished by a fine not exceeding 1% of its global turnover for the previous financial year “. We quote here the second part of the proposed amendment.
To justify this new amendment identified on X.com by our colleague Marc Rees, from the Informed, the deputies came up with an argument that was, let’s say, curious. Aware of “ the technical impossibility of regulating the use of VPNs (…) this amendment however aims to highlight this subject in order, ultimately, to find a relevant and effective technical solution “. We will add that the amendment does not say a word about the PC use of a VPN, and that a strict ban can be circumvented by installing an APK, a file which allows manual installation, but not necessarily secure on your mobile. . There is also no shortage of tutorials on this subject.
So, a question arises: if the deputies, in the current state of their knowledge on the subject, are convinced that it is not possible to regulate the use of a VPN, why are they proposing to Google and Apple to do ? The Horizons and Related group evokes a “ hole in the racket » and insufficient regulation. The snake should continue to bite its tail for a while longer.
Sources: National Assembly, @reesmarc on X.com
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