The Persistent Need to Reform Cyber Security Services: A Case Study on France

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On February 21, 2014, following the terrorist attacks in France, the French prime minister declared that cyber security is a matter of major interest, and national interest of concern to all citizens, and it is important that the government is fully engaged. In the wake of the new challenges raised by terrorism in recent years and the cyber-attacks in Europe, the French Government presented in 2015 a national cybersecurity strategy emphasizing training and international cooperation. France's enhanced participation in the multilateral negotiations on cybersecurity within the UN and the OSCE is an indicator of the necessity of reforming and adapting cyber security services. However, the new French President has emphasized the need to reform further the cyber security services and the urge to master ever-evolving technologies in terms of data collection and cryptology. This article discusses the need to continue the reform of the French intelligence services, and to enhance the cooperation and the speed of innovation in the field cyber security - a general challenge for Western Europe.