Cyberharassment, online scams, porn sites… The Assembly largely adopts the bill to regulate the digital space

The text was voted on by 360 votes for and 77 against, mainly those of La France insoumise. The Assembly largely approved, Tuesday October 17, at first reading, the bill for the regulation of the digital space (SREN), which promises to better fight against cyberharassment, internet scams and even the accessibility of pornographic sites to minors.

The text had raised serious concerns about the protection of public freedoms, from the National Rally, La France insoumise but also from certain majority parliamentarians. At the end of the debates, the government received the support of the Republicans, the Socialist Party, most of the elected representatives of the Liot group and benefited from the abstention of the RN, Europe Ecologie-Les Verts and the PCF.

It had already been unanimously approved in the Senate on July 5. The joint committee (CMP) during which senators and deputies will try to agree on a common version could be held in December. La France insoumise should refer the matter to the Constitutional Council after adoption by the joint committee.

Anonymity preserved online

The debates gave rise to technical and passionate exchanges over two weeks, in front of an often sparse audience. The general rapporteur Paul Midy (Renaissance), who had taken the opportunity of this text to make amendments aimed at reducing anonymity on the internet, finally retreated, facing opposition from the government and a good part of the deputies.

If the Assembly approved the idea of ​​providing access to a “Numeric identity” to all French people who wish it by 2027, Internet users will not be required to have one to open an account on social networks, as Paul Midy and “nearly 200 deputies” of the majority.

MEPs also rejected another measure, aimed at imposing fixed fines for “racist public insults and defamation” Or “sexist” In “digital space”.