France
9 apps we list are based here
The laws that apply to a company based in France. Facts only, each with its source.
The laws, in short
Main privacy law
The EU's GDPR (2016) applies in France. The 1978 Data Protection Act ('Informatique et Libertés') adds French rules.
Tech name: GDPR and Loi n° 78-17 du 6 janvier 1978 · What's that? · Loi n° 78-17 du 6 janvier 1978 relative à l'informatique, aux fichiers et aux libertés (Légifrance)
Who enforces it
The CNIL is France's independent data protection authority. It investigates organisations and can impose financial penalties.
Tech name: CNIL (Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés) · CNIL: The CNIL's missions
Do EU privacy rules cover it?Yes
France is in the EU, so the GDPR applies directly.
Tech name: GDPR (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) · What's that? · Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR), EUR-Lex
Laws that let the government ask for data
The 2015 Intelligence Act lets intelligence services collect users' connection data from telecom operators.
Tech name: Loi n° 2015-912 du 24 juillet 2015 relative au renseignement (Code de la sécurité intérieure art. L851-1) · LOI n° 2015-912 du 24 juillet 2015 relative au renseignement (Légifrance)
Must companies keep connection data?Yes
France's top administrative court ruled in 2021 that general storage of connection data is allowed for national security, under regular review.
Tech name: Conseil d'État, French Data Network, n° 393099, 21 April 2021; CPCE art. L34-1 · What's that? · Conseil d'État: Connection data (21 April 2021)
Published intelligence-sharing agreements
We found no published intelligence-sharing agreement.
Last checked Nov 4, 2026. Laws change, so every fact is true as of the date we checked it, and we check again. How we check