Julian
Lawyer · Toulouse, France
- 117 cases handled
- 39+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish, German, French
- Law with Honours, Liverpool University
Data Protection in France
In France the GDPR is known as the RGPD; it is completed by the national Informatique et Libertés law and enforced by the CNIL, an active regulator. English-speaking lawyers help foreign-owned businesses, online shops, employers and holiday-let hosts in France put their handling of personal data in order and deal with complaints, breaches and inspections.
About Data Protection in France
Data protection in France — GDPR compliance, French data protection law, data privacy law — rests on the EU regulation called the RGPD in French, on the national loi Informatique et Libertés that completes it, and on the guidance and inspections of the regulator, the CNIL (Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés). Bringing a business into line is called mise en conformité RGPD; a data protection officer is a délégué à la protection des données, usually just the DPO. This page is about the duties of a business; a person who wants their own information taken off the internet has a different request.
Who it concerns
Foreign companies with French customers or staff, online shops and apps, marketing agencies, clinics and therapists, estate agencies, hosts of furnished holiday lets, and businesses outside the EU that target people in France.
What compliance means in practice
- A record of the processing the business carries out (registre des traitements), with a lawful reason for each use of data.
- A privacy notice in French saying what is collected, why, for how long and who receives it.
- A cookie banner that lets visitors refuse as easily as they accept, a point on which the CNIL is strict.
- Written terms with every service provider handling the data: hosting, payroll, booking platform, customer database.
- A procedure for data breaches (violation de données), which may have to be reported to the CNIL within a short deadline.
- Replies to people who ask to see, correct or erase their data.
Points to watch in France
Cameras at work or in a shop fall under data protection and labour law at the same time: staff have to be informed, and the employee representatives consulted where they exist. Monitoring employees' e-mails or movements is tightly limited. Hosts of tourist rentals have a separate duty to have foreign guests fill in a police registration form, which is not the same thing as RGPD compliance. Many inspections begin with a complaint filed online (plainte CNIL) by a customer or a former employee. Fines exist, and the CNIL makes many of its decisions public.
What a lawyer does
Maps the data the business holds, drafts the privacy notice, cookie policy and internal rules in French and English, writes the data clauses with suppliers during a contract review, advises whether a DPO is required, and represents the business in a CNIL inspection or complaint. Related topics: tourist rental registration and, for staff data and cameras, employment disputes.
Questions and answers
Does the RGPD apply to a small business in France?
Yes, whatever its size. A small business keeps simpler records, but the principles are the same.
Is a DPO compulsory?
Only for public bodies and for businesses whose core activity involves large-scale monitoring of people or sensitive data. Others may appoint one voluntarily.
A customer has complained to the CNIL. What happens next?
The CNIL may ask the business for explanations or open an inspection. A prompt, documented answer usually matters more than anything else.
Our company is outside the EU. Does the RGPD apply?
It can, if you offer goods or services to people in France or monitor their behaviour; such a company may also need a representative in the EU.
2 lawyers who provide Data Protection in France
Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.
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Thibault
Lawyer · Guéron, France
- 101 cases handled
- 17+ years in practice
- Speaks: French, English
- DEA International law, Caen Law University
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4.91(7 reviews)
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Talk to a lawyer about Data Protection
2 registered lawyers provide this service in France. Describe your situation in a short chat — what happened, where, and how to reach you. Your enquiry is reviewed and passed to a lawyer who handles exactly this kind of case, with no obligation.
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There was nothing more the lawyer could have done. The service left me very satisfied, and I would certainly recommend it to friends.
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The lawyer was extremely helpful to us. We had been struggling with my father's estate for years without getting anywhere, and he resolved everything quickly and efficiently. We are completely satisfied with the outcome.
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Brilliant lawyer, for whom nothing was too much trouble. Others had advised me that my issue could not be fixed, yet she resolved it. I am truly grateful for her hard work, and I am very satisfied with the result.
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He was knowledgeable, responsive and competent, and a great communicator in perfect English. A pleasure.
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Very helpful advice, with a clear explanation of the right course of action.
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The lawyer was very approachable and glad to give time to video conference calls so that all our requirements were understood. He was very patient, especially as our case was so emotional, and stayed professional throughout. The assistance was excellent.
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The lawyer was responsive, quick to get back to me and professional.
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The lawyer assisted and advised me on a possible medical negligence claim. I did not pursue it in the end, but my case was examined in depth and I was supported throughout in a professional, sympathetic way. I was told that the claim would probably fail and that I should not spend more money that might well be wasted. The fee was very reasonable given the situation. I would thoroughly recommend this service, and her above all.
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I am a foreigner who owns a home in Lyon but, travelling for work, does not live there, and the lawyer has been absolutely wonderful. She is available whenever needed, very knowledgeable and thorough. I could not have asked for better assistance.
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