The Senate has given the green light to a controversial provision of the justice bill authorizing the remote triggering of telephone microphones or cameras in certain investigations. Article 3 of the bill of the Minister of Justice Eric Dupond-Moretti, examined at first reading by the senators, brings several modifications to the criminal procedure.

One of them plans to authorize the remote triggering of computers and other connected devices, without the knowledge of the persons concerned, with two different purposes. On the one hand, real-time geolocation for certain offences. On the other hand, the activation of microphones and cameras to capture sound and images, which would be reserved for cases of terrorism, and delinquency and organized crime.

The Freedom and Digital Observatory (OLN) denounced a “security overkill” allowing to transform any connected object into potential “snitch”. For its part, the left has tried without success to completely or partially remove provisions deemed “disproportionate”. It is “the door open to widespread surveillance”said the ecologist Guy Benarroche.

“These techniques are already applied”, underlined Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti, but they require the installation of beacons or microphones and cameras, which entails risks for the investigators. The layout is “surrounded by important guarantees”, he added. Its implementation will in particular have to be approved by a judge.

Against the opinion of the minister, the Senate adopted an amendment which provides for limiting the possibility of using geolocation to offenses punishable by at least ten years’ imprisonment, against five years in the initial text.

Apple says users will be able to use their iPhones with the ID card stored in the Cards (Wallet) app with merchants and other businesses. This will be particularly useful for verifying the age for buying alcohol, renting a car and more. Note that this will also work with the driver’s license saved on the iPhone.

Here is what Apple says in its announcement:

Starting this fall, businesses will be able to accept IDs in Apple Wallet, without additional hardware. This will simplify their ability to securely verify a customer’s age in person for alcohol purchases, for example, or verify a customer’s identity at checkout for car rentals, and even more. To seamlessly and securely present their ID card in Wallet to an equipped merchant, users simply wave their iPhone or Apple Watch near the merchant’s iPhone. Users will see what information is requested and whether the receiving party will store the information. Users will then be prompted to authenticate and provide consent using Face ID or Touch ID.

The feature will only be available in the US initially. And yet, it will be a reality in only a few US states. Indeed, not everyone has yet adopted Apple’s system to have the identity card or driver’s license registered on the iPhone.