President Emmanuel Macron on Monday formalized the 17 cyber device, an emergency number intended to deal with cyber attacks.
“Cyber is the threat element of tomorrow”. It is on this declaration that the government formalized, Tuesday, January 11, its desire to strengthen its action plan against cybercrime in France. During a question-and-answer session in front of the National Assembly, the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin detailed the measures announced the day before by the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron. Among them, the recruitment of 1,500 “Cyber defenders” to the police, but above all setting up an emergency number.
Aware that phishing, data theft and cyber attacks are more and more widespread, the government estimates that within five years, “Almost all citizens” will have experienced an attempted fraud on the Internet. Companies will not be spared: last year, one in two was the victim of cyber malevolence. A figure which should increase in the coming months.
17 Cyber
To respond to the increase in cyber threats, the government wishes to create an emergency number exclusively dedicated to online attacks. Aimed at individuals and businesses alike, it will be accessible 24 hours a day, and will put callers in touch with experts working in structures such as the National Agency for the Security of Information Systems (Anssi) or the Ministry of ‘Interior. Concretely, this could allow an individual who receives revenge porn threats to immediately call the service, in order to know the risks and possible remedies in this type of situation. This will also apply to phishing emails accusing the victim of possession of child pornography images, or for companies, which could be “at once” accompanied in the event of a ransomware attack.
More than just an emergency number, the experts of this cyber police can also play the role legal support for victims. They will thus be able to advise it in its procedures, in particular in the filing of a complaint, and the digital evidence backup.
Cyber remains virtual
The government’s announcement about this emergency number is undeniably good news. However, the project still seems very in its infancy, not to say non-existent. The Home Office has not yet given concrete details around the project – starting with the number assigned to the service, and acknowledges that “For the moment we are more in the intention than in the concrete”. It will therefore be necessary to take his troubles patiently for the victims. The precise legal framework of this 17th Cyber should be defined next March, when the planning and orientation bill of the Ministry of the Interior (Lopmi) will be presented to the Council of Ministers.
