Government website knocked offline

A denial-of-service attack paralysed the website of France's General Secretariat for Defence and National Security for several hours on Tuesday. No one has claimed responsibility for the assault.

Attack targets security agency

The targeted SGDSN website hosts Viginum, France's service for detecting and countering foreign digital interference. The attack carries symbolic weight for this reason.

Supermarket refrigeration systems hit

A separate cyberattack disrupted refrigeration systems at dozens of supermarkets earlier this week. The offensive struck several countries, including France, and has not been claimed.

Seven hundred sites affected

Some seven hundred of roughly ten thousand food retail sites across France were affected by the supermarket attack. Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure said there was no threat to the country's food supplies.

Food sovereignty under attack

Roland Lescure told parliament the attack strikes at the heart of French food sovereignty. The affected sites were restocking their shelves when the offensive occurred.

“strikes at the heart of French food sovereignty”

Barrot warns against interference

Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot used a speech at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris on Tuesday to warn that foreign interference would not be tolerated.

Barrot names specific threats

Barrot singled out Iran, Russia and China, as well as the MAGA movement of US President Donald Trump's supporters.He also criticised interventions by US billionaire Elon Musk and attempts to exploit high-school protests in France.

No tolerance for any interference

We will not tolerate any foreign interference, wherever it comes from, Barrot said. Such meddling must be curbed as the presidential election approaches, he argued.

“We will not tolerate any foreign interference, wherever it comes from”

New legislation examined Wednesday

A bill aimed at strengthening France's response to foreign interference is being examined by the Senate Law Committee on Wednesday, before a debate in the full chamber next week.

Bill targets false information

The legislation would allow a judge to order measures to stop clearly false or misleading claims online. Such content must be circulated deliberately and on a massive scale using artificial or automated methods.

Macron meets on artificial intelligence

President Emmanuel Macron was to meet with the national defence and security council on artificial intelligence on Wednesday. France considers the security risks posed by the technology a strategic national security issue.