December 1, 2023 at 01:18PM
French PM Élisabeth Borne recommended government employees switch to the French app Olvid from foreign messaging apps like Signal and WhatsApp. Olvid offers end-to-end encryption without personal data and has ANSII security certification. The move isn’t a ban but aims to enhance data security within the government.
Takeaways from the Meeting Notes:
1. **Action by Élisabeth Borne**: The Prime Minister of France, Élisabeth Borne, has signed a circular addressing all government employees to phase out foreign communication apps such as Signal, WhatsApp, and Telegram by December 8, 2023.
2. **Adoption of ‘Olvid’**: Government officials are encouraged to use the French messaging app Olvid, which is developed by a French company, as a more secure alternative.
3. **Not a Ban**: The move is not a prohibition; rather, it is a strong recommendation for using local software.
4. **Security Features of Olvid**: Olvid boasts end-to-end encryption, utilizes a decentralized infrastructure, and does not require personal data for registration, positioning it as a secure and privacy-oriented option.
5. **The Motive for Change**: The Prime Minister has cited security vulnerabilities in current popular messaging apps as a concern, suggesting Olvid as a safer solution due to its security features and the absence of security breaches.
6. **Rebuttals**: Meredith Whittaker, President of Signal, has contested the vague security vulnerability claims made against foreign apps.
7. **Certification Advantage**: Olvid stands out as it has received “first-level security certification” from ANSII, France’s national cybersecurity agency, which involves a rigorous review of the app’s source code.
8. **Cryptography Validation**: The cryptographic protocols of Olvid have been independently validated by cryptography professor Michel Abdalla.
9. **Quantum-Resistance**: Olvid’s cryptographic features are quantum-resistant, and it plans to update its public-key cryptography following NIST’s algorithm selection process.
10. **Government Sentiment**: Despite the directive, not all parts of the French government are on board with the exclusive promotion of Olvid, with some expressing that Signal is also considered a satisfactory platform for their use.
11. **Contextual Reference**: Similar to actions taken against TikTok in March 2023, this move aligns with broader security concerns that have led to the ban of certain apps in Western governments to prevent espionage.
Overall, while the French government emphasizes enhanced security and data protection through the promotion of Olvid, mixed opinions about the directive reveal a debate over the best secure communication practices within the state apparatus.