France in Focus

We're not signed up to Bloctel but thought I'd post for those that might be - apparently up to 3 million phone numbers have been leaked.

Bloc tel ceased to function last week after the new law came into force.

Two sad stories: not an exerpt from a teenage opera about Grocer Jack, but from a press communiqué by the French government:

" The DGCCRF is warning consumers following a data breach at Bloctel........ This security incident comes as the Bloctel service was discontinued on 11 August 2026, in accordance with the Act of 30 June 2025, which was introduced to better protect consumers from cold calling. France now applies a mandatory prior consent regime (known as the ‘opt-in’ system) for cold calling private individuals.

The entry into force of this reform brings to an end the system under which consumers had to register their refusal to receive cold calls on Bloctel. This reform, stemming from the law against all forms of fraud relating to public aid, marks a turning point in consumer protection: all sales calls must now be preceded by explicit, prior and traceable consent, for which the trader must provide proof. "

Oh, the irony.

Mathematics, yesterday's news from Cyberspace: irony squared.

" Tax authority data breach: the threats now facing individuals and businesses. 678,000 people have had their sensitive data hacked and then put up for sale online. The tax authorities are urging those affected to be cautious. What are the best practices for protecting yourself? "

“This data breach is particularly problematic in terms of the volume and sensitivity of the data,” emphasises Benoit Grünemwald, a cybersecurity expert at ESET France. Names, addresses, taxable income, withholding tax rates… a wide range of information has been stolen. However, the tax authorities sought to reassure the public, stating that “this information does not allow access to secure accounts on impots.gouv.fr”.

Back to proven antivirus/hacking technologies?

RobertArthur wrote: ↑Sun Aug 16, 2026 11:09 am “this information does not allow access to secure accounts on impots.gouv.fr”.

One wonders what is considered worth keeping secure.