Loi pour une Republique Numerique (Digital Republic Act)

Introduction

The Loi pour une Republique Numerique (Digital Republic Act) of 2016 is a landmark French law addressing digital rights, data protection, and internet governance. The law modernizes French legal frameworks for the digital age.

Data Protection

The law strengthened data protection rights, including the right to erasure (droit a l’effacement or right to be forgotten), data portability, and protections for minors. It established the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertes (CNIL) as the independent data protection authority.

Net Neutrality

The law enshrines net neutrality principles requiring internet service providers to treat all traffic equally without discrimination or paid prioritization. The law implemented EU net neutrality regulations at the national level.

Open Data

The law established a presumption of openness for public data, requiring government agencies to proactively publish information of public interest. It created the mission Etalab to coordinate open data policy.