France
Intelligence watchdog and services spar over control of sovereignty files

France
With ECHR ruling in its favour, French intelligence turns focus on new national strategy

In a case that lasted a decade, the European Court of Human Rights ruled on 16 January that journalists' and lawyers' challenges to French intelligence-gathering techniques were inadmissible. While the ruling dealt a hard blow to the plaintiffs, it is a victory for the intelligence services which are now free to look ahead to the next national intelligence strategy.

The Intelligence Gazette
French PM's intelligence decider, Indonesia strategist in Paris, Campus Cyber, China/Russia media cooperation, DNI and climate change

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community.

FranceFrench PMs' decision maker on intelligence-gathering

IndonesiaMilitary intelligence strategist arrives in Paris

FranceVan den Berghe receives honour in front of cyber elite

ChinaBeijing seeks greater control of Russian media narrative in Global South through teamwork

United StatesDirector of National Intelligence concerned about climate change under Trump

The Intelligence Gazette
French Court of Auditors lifts veil on intel services, CCP's new South China Sea grab, NATO officer's pay appeal rejected

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community.

FranceCourt of Auditors puts magnifying lens to intelligence services

ChinaBeijing stakes claim over South China Sea in official papers

FranceNo pay for NATO officer accused of spying for Russia

France, United Kingdom
France's intelligence watchdog looks to Britain to contend with human rights challenges

Blind spots remain in the oversight of intelligence techniques in France. European Court of Human Rights rulings are pending that may single Paris out for criticism. The country's CNCTR supervisory body believes a legislative review is needed, and that the British model is worth considering.

France
France's intercepted intelligence data to be centralised by 2027

The French intelligence-gathering techniques watchdog CNCTR has set 2027 as the target for all data collected by intelligence techniques to be centralised and remotely accessible for controls, despite pushback from some agencies.

France
The national intelligence coordination agency tackling cross-service human resources issues

Since 2022, the CNRLT has been seeking to standardise recruitment and professional development practices across the intelligence services. One of the unspoken goals is to temper the competition between agencies that has been driving salaries up.

France
Administrative delays and cumbersome controls: the CNCTR calls lawmakers to account

The CNCTR is publishing its annual report at a time when the French military appropriations' law is being reviewed, and against a backdrop of tensions between intelligence agencies over the control of their methods.