How is the LSSI a threat to fundamental rights?
The new law has drawn much criticism among human rights activists and small Web site owners around the world over its impact on the right to privacy and data protection, online free speech, the presumption of innocence, the right to confidentiality of communications, and the right to anonymous speech, as these rights are protected by international human rights conventions. The data retention provision is of particular concern since it compels Internet service providers and telephone companies to retain all their customers’ traffic and location data for up to a year. The industry is concerned about these new requirements because of their excessive cost and privacy implications.New registration and identification requirements may in some cases stifle the right to anonymous speech and could be used as a tool of indirect censorship, especially in the case of small and independent web site owners with views and interests running against the government.
