Le Monde diplomatique
March 2008

Surveillance, the Law and the Rules

France established a national security alert system, Plan Vigipirate, in 1978 to mobilise police if a foreign power tried to provoke domestic destabilisation. After 9/11 the legislation was extended to counter terrorism. Private enterprise took advantage of the new climate of fear and now, thanks to the surveillance industry, order reigns without a police presence.

by Martin Mongin

Everywhere we go - supermarkets, car parks, shopping malls,
offices, railway stations, universities, museums, sporting