The Senate voted on Wednesday at first reading the article of the “Lopmi” bill framing the conditions for reimbursement by insurance companies of ransoms for cyberattacks, but at the cost of heated debate.
The orientation and programming bill of the Ministry of the Interior includes a very important digital and cyber component, in particular to deal with the sharp increase in cybercrime.
Among other measures, it conditions the reimbursement of cyber-ransoms by insurers to the filing of a complaint, quickly, by the victim.
The Minister of the Interior Grald Darmanin, supported by the rapporteur Marc-Philippe Daubresse (LR) had to argue a lot to oppose a series of amendments aimed at removing this provision, pointing to a misinterpretation of their authors.
Franois Bonhomme (LR) declared that this article came to weaken the determined and constant position of the public authorities (…) which have always recommended to companies and administrations never to pay a ransom.
The vote on this simple article potentially endangers our compatriots who live abroad by sending a signal that will be understood by everyone, including terrorist groups, that the payment of ransom is for France only a question of modality and not a question of principle, added Olivier Cadic (centrist).
Insurers could in the event of reimbursement be complicit in the financing of acts of terrorism, added Nathalie Goulet (centrist).
The state of the law today is that there are insurances which ensure the payment of ransoms, explained the minister. We say + we can only allow insurance companies to insure ransoms if there is a complaint filed +, so that the public authorities can be aware of the facts.
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If we delete this article, there will always be insurance that provides ransoms, without anyone knowing, he added.
The Senate also voted for an amendment by socialist Rmi Cardon reducing from 48 to 24 hours the period within which the insured must notify the authorities after a cyber-attack.
The senators will continue Thursday the examination of the Lopmi which provides over five years a financial effort of 15 billion euros for the Ministry of the Interior, including 8 billion dedicated to cyber and digital.