All articles - France

The Agencies' Gazette
DGSE, Kazakhstan's KGB

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community from London to Paris via Nur-Sultan.

Paris the DGSE adopts a TREX

Nur-Sultan the new KNB master's rise signals victory for the Tokayev camp

Paris DGSE more careful on the internet than DGSI

Axis kickstarts the New Year with major reform

As well as moving its Paris premises, from the Montparnasse Tower to nearby Boulevard Pasteur, the corporate intelligence company Axis & Co is taking advantage of the New Year to conduct a complete overhaul.

Macron gets intelligence services battle ready to protect elections from potential foreign interference

Unlike previous presidential polls, the Elysée is mobilising intelligence services on an unprecedented scale to secure the next election. Behind France's dedicated new agency Viginum, the DGSE, the DGSI and Tracfin are actively trying to prevent new foreign interferences.

Spotlight
Monaco's Russian community thriving a decade into Rybolovlev's club leadership

The principality boasts a wealthy set of art-loving Russian expats who enjoy its luxury concierges, yacht dealers and private galleries while maintaining their Moscow connections despite the distance.

DGSI looks to get ahead with predictive algorithms

After carrying out an end-of-year review of progress on its future big data analytics system OTDH, France's internal intelligence service, the DGSI, is looking to upgrade its technology capacity through the use of predictive analytics.

TM4 provides key to Afghan security contracts under Taliban

Headed by the former governor of Kunduz, TM4 is fast establishing itself as the go-to partner for Western private security firms, being one of the few local outfits to have kept its licence to operate under the Taliban.

Paris pays the price for Kyiv's ruthlessness towards Arsen Avakov

The French government will struggle to resurrect its hopes for military-industrial business opportunities in Kyiv with Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, determined to reduce the influence of the networks of former Interior minister Arsen Avakov, who was Paris's key liaison in the country.

Tracfin's next director to start with a full plate of challenges

Because of its broad scope, the French financial intelligence service Tracfin, if used well, could become a handy intelligence warfare tool. But after Maryvonne Le Brignonen's controversial directorship the unit is facing numerous challenges, both internal and external.

TotalEnergies reminds Baku of its interest in the Caspian Sea

The new gas swap agreement struck between Caspian Sea neighbours Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan did not escape the attention of Arnaud Breuillac, special adviser to TotalEnergies boss Patrick Pouyanné. He travelled recently to Baku to revive talks with the authorities there about the group's gas interests in Azerbaijan.

Australian lobbying firm Dragoman visits Paris after derailed Naval Group submarine deal

The lobbying firm used by Naval Group to save its submarine deal with the Australian government has been prospecting for new business from the French defence industry.

Security stalwart SSF looks to boost its business intelligence practice

Scutum group subsidiary SSF has produced a background checking system to enable TV producers to avoid employing candidates and actors with dubious credentials.

Viginum and DGSI consider partnering with defence-backed startups to fight fake news

With four months to go before the French presidential elections, Sahar and Storyzy, two start-ups backed in their early days by the French armed forces ministry, are leading the field for contracts to equip the DGSI and Viginum - the second on the advice of the first - with cyber systems to fight fake news.

Private investigator Cristal Group swoops in to take French cyberspecialist Celteam mid-deal

Ex-hacker Patrice Guichard's company had been on track to be absorbed by a large French group but was acquired by the private investigator Cristal Group at the last minute after a deal made between old acquaintances.