Syntec Numérique is delighted with the balanced compromise reached in the joint committee (CMP) concerning the bill for a digital republic

The aim of this text is ambitious, since it conveys the vision that digital technology is not limited to a single sector, but rather permeates the entire economy, fostering innovation, growth and, ultimately, employment and purchasing power. However, this ambition was undermined when the bill was examined by the Senate, causing concern among Syntec Numérique. The joint committee therefore worked to reach a compromise that preserves the positive vision underlying the initial text.

Syntec Numérique is particularly pleased with the deletion of article 26 Bis concerning data localization. Indeed, the notions of territory and localization make no sense when it comes to digital technology, which is inherently fluid, innovative and cross-disciplinary. To invoke the protection of citizens and security to legitimize these notions is to err on the side of caution. The real issue concerns the legal regime applied to these data and their transfer. This has been undermined by the invalidation of theSafe Harboragreement, and we need to remedy this by rapidly adopting the Privacy Shield, currently being negotiated between the United States and Europe.

Syntec Numérique also notes that a number of provisions should have a positive impact on companies in the sector, notably those in Title 1 of the law on the opening up of public data, and the extension of the suramortissement to productive investments that our organization has been calling for.

Finally, Syntec Numérique welcomes the fact that in the final wording of the text, the members of parliament have shown a willingness to move closer to the timetable and provisions of European texts, which should avoid its isolation and enable future rapprochements.

“The joint committee succeeded in rebalancing a text that had been distorted in its philosophy, and we can congratulate ourselves on this. However, the debates surrounding this project leave us somewhat perplexed,”comments Godefroy de Bentzmann, President of Syntec Numérique,“A protectionist vision, advocating over-regulation, very Franco-French, is still very much alive, as evidenced by the defunct article 26 Bis A. This means that our organization must continue to evangelize our fellow citizens and elected representatives about the economy of our sector, its functioning and its needs”,he concludes.