The case centers on a social media trend in which men use the glasses to film women in public without their consent and post the footage online, often on TikTok. Reuters reported on Friday that the prosecutor’s office in France has not disclosed how many complaints it has received or if any of the perpetrators have been identified. The scrutiny centers on Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, made with eyewear company EssilorLuxottica. The glasses have a small camera built into the frame and an LED light that signals when it is recording.

France opens criminal investigation into the act

Rights group e-Enfance released a warning that some users in France cover or disable the light, which makes it harder for people nearby to know they are being filmed. Meta has since released two software updates that stop the camera from recording when the indicator is blocked. Article 226-1 of the French Penal Code provides for up to one year in prison and a €45,000 fine for recording someone’s image without consent, but the provision applies to private places and not public areas.

This distinction is of note when assessing the prosecutor’s decision to open a criminal investigation. The data protection authority in France, the CNIL, while examining the issue from a regulatory perspective, warned in June that cameras and microphones built into ordinary-looking glasses can capture people without their knowledge. Nacera Bekhat, the CNIL’s head of economic affairs, told Reuters that the glasses pose “real challenges” when it comes to alerting people they are being recorded and obtaining consent.

Regulators and safety advocates say the burden of preventing abuse should not fall on the people being recorded. Ines Legendre, a legal expert at e-Enfance, told Reuters that an indicator light does not amount to consent to being filmed or to having someone’s image shared with thousands of people in France and abroad. Ines Girard, who studies technology-enabled gender-based violence at the Center Hubertine Auclert, added to that point, arguing that the burden of being more vigilant should not rest on the people being recorded.

Meta dominates the smart glasses market, with Reuters putting its global share at about 76%. Counterpoint Research had measured Meta’s share at 82% in the second half of 2025, before a wave of rivals subsequently flooded the market. EssilorLuxottica reported sales of over 7 million AI glasses in 2025 and described the category’s growth as exponential. France is not moving in isolation, with the German group HateAid also filing a criminal complaint last month against Meta, Ray-Ban, Oakley, and several retailers.

Australia’s finance minister, Katy Gallagher, asked the public service commission on Thursday for advice on whether the glasses should be banned in Commonwealth workplaces. Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office opened an investigation into smart glasses in March, while some venues have completely restricted the use of the glasses. The UK Cinema Association said in August that it was not aware of any members enforcing outright bans. The European Data Protection Board is also preparing to review the issue with national data protection authorities.

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The reports revealed that the robbers first forced their way into another resident’s home to get directions to the correct apartment. According to police, the suspects took two cell phones and fled after failing to find him. The trio did not stop there. A Vaucresson resident who had just been hit on the head with a gun butts by multiple masked guys contacted police in the Hauts-de-Seine department at 9:15 a.m.

Police apprehend suspects following Binance France CEO kidnap attempt

The Vaucresson resident reported hearing them say, “The address isn’t right,” and “Stéphane lives at number 41.” Later, checks would verify that a cryptocurrency entrepreneur actually lived at number 41. Then the three men ran away. The exact address was used to track down the two pilfered cell phones. CCTV footage also showed that the identical vehicle seen in the Val-de-Marne department that morning was being used by the criminals.

French outlet RTL reported that Police units from Hauts-de-Seine, Val-de-Marne, Yvelines, and the transport police were called in, along with the Parisian BRB (Brigade de Répression du Banditisme, or Organized Crime Unit). According to the report, the track revealed the trio boarded a train to Lyon after being readily followed on public transit. Later, the suspects were captured at Lyon Perrache train station after the Lyon BRI received an urgent alert, and they were placed under arrest.

France has faced a steady increase in so-called “wrench attacks,” where attackers employ threats or physical force to get access to cryptocurrency holdings. On September 5 of last year, Cryptopolitan reported that French authorities detained seven suspects in relation to the abduction of a Swiss man, aged 20. The report revealed that the victim was rescued by 150 military police officers who reportedly carried out a special operation in Valence.

The military police officers found him in a residence close to the city’s high-speed train station. In another Cryptopolitan report dated June 20, 2025, David Baland, a co-founder of Ledger, was abducted, had a finger amputated, and was held hostage before being freed. The same month, a young man was kidnapped while his girlfriend was out shopping. She later received a video call from his phone. Instead of him, a man appeared on the screen and told her to wait outside the house with a bag containing 5,000 euros ($5,750) in cash and a Ledger wallet that had an undetermined amount of cryptocurrencies for his release.

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The man has been exchanged for a French citizen held in Russian custody, instead of being handed over to the U.S. The swap has been compared to the Griner case. Daniil Kasatkin, a basketball player from Russia who was arrested in Paris last summer, has been set free and allowed to fly back to his home country. “Kasatkin was released from prison last night. He was put on a plane and has already landed in Moscow,” his lawyer, Frederic Belot, said.

France frees hacker wanted in the United States

Belot noted that a French court had approved the athlete’s extradition to the United States, but Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu did not sign the respective order. Kasatkin was detained at the French capital’s Charles de Gaulle airport on June 21, 2025, at the request of the American government.

US authorities allege his involvement in cybercrime, more specifically, in the activities of a hacker group that encrypted company data and demanded cryptocurrency for ransom. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) believes the hits were carried out using his laptop or IP addresses linked to him while he was in the country.

Investigators in Washington claim Kasatkin participated in a conspiracy to commit computer fraud, money laundering, and cyberattacks. Between 2020 and 2022, Daniil played two seasons in the US college leagues, the online news portal Gazeta.ru recalled, noting that the crimes were committed later, after the Russian had sold his computer to a roommate.

Daniil Kasatkin’s extradition to the United States was approved on October 29. If the executive power in France had followed the French court’s ruling to grant the American request, he would have faced up to 25 years in prison on the said charges. The Russian basketball player maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.

Kasatkin was released as part of a prisoner exchange with Russia

Following his arrest, Frédéric Belot and his Russian colleague, Vladimir Sarukhanov, filed motions for bail or judicial supervision that were denied.
During the first court hearing, in early September, the Russian declared he did not consent to the extradition and intended to defend himself in France, where he expected a more “objective” judicial treatment.

According to his lawyers, prosecutors did not present any direct evidence against their client, while U.S. law enforcement failed to submit the required documents in full within the 60 days prescribed by French law. The extradition was nevertheless approved. However, Lecornu’s decision not to sign under the ruling ensured a different outcome for Kasatkin. And it did not come completely out of the blue.

It turns out, the Russian has been freed as a result of a prisoner swap agreed with Moscow. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) provided the details. “Kasatkin was exchanged for French citizen Vinatier, Laurent Claude Jean-Louis, who, as an employee of the Swiss non-governmental organization Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, collected military and military-technical information,” the agency said.

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Some of the support areas that Renault intends to reduce by 15% include human resources, finance, and marketing. It is part of the company’s cost-saving project known as “Arrow.” The reduction is expected to result in approximately 3,000 job losses at the firm’s headquarters in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris, and other locations worldwide.

This development comes after the introduction of a commercial version of the French automaker’s new Renault 4 E-Tech crossover. Described as the Societe, this new line of electric cars for professionals skips the traditional van look in favor of something much more subtle. In 2021, Renault unveiled a concept inspired by the classic Renault 4 Fourgonnette, sparking hopes for a retro revival. But with the new 4 E-Tech Societe, the automaker opted for a more budget-friendly approach.

Renault reveals job cuts program amid cost-cutting measures

According to the newsletter, reports of the workforce reduction are corroborated by a source with knowledge on the topic of discussion. The source, which is close to the company, revealed that a final decision could be made by the end of this year. When asked about the topic, Renault confirmed that it is exploring cost-cutting measures. The company also stated that no specific number has been decided.

A spokesperson for Renault clarified that the firm has embraced this approach due to increasing uncertainties in the automotive market and the intense competitive nature of the industry. “Therefore, we are looking into ways to streamline our operations, improve execution speed, and lower our fixed costs,” the spokesperson added. The total number of Renault’s workforce in 2024 was 98,636 employees globally.

In July, Renault announced a net loss of € 11.2 billion, roughly equivalent to $13 billion for the year’s first half. This included a €9.3 billion write-down related to its partner, Nissan. Notably, without this write-down, the net income would have dropped to €461 million, which is lower than one-third of the previous year’s. This drop resulted from a weaker van market, increased costs related to electric vehicles, and pressure from swift industry competition.

Significant challenges threaten operations

Analysts have also raised concerns about how François Provost, CEO of Renault, manages the company’s profit margins. According to them, Provost, who replaced Luca de Meo in July after he was poached by the owner of Gucci Kering, needs to address profit margins as soon as possible. They also highlighted that he needs to work to bring Renault’s credit rating back up to an investment grade, while figuring out how the relatively small car company can survive US tariffs and stiff competition from Chinese rivals.

This issue was raised after reports from sources revealed that although Renault has been largely protected from US tariffs, as it does not have a footprint there, it has been indirectly hit by greater commercial pressure as European rivals seeking new markets outside the United States step up efforts to sell in its home region of France.

In the meantime, the company reported zero growth in second-quarter sales volume and cautioned that sales performance was weak in June. It also faces increasing competition from Chinese newcomers in the electric car and hybrid markets. Barclays analysts suggest that Renault may have experienced slower price-mix momentum during the first half of the year. The company is due to announce full first-half results soon.

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The talks would be the first direct ones since Israel announced a 12-day military offensive on Iran, which briefly dragged in the United States. The pressure is on the E3, the group made up of Britain, France, and Germany, to decide whether to trigger the snapback mechanism, a clause from the collapsed 2015 nuclear deal. If invoked, the clause would automatically reimpose UN sanctions on Iran.

Europe to offer conditions that hinge on talks and IAEA access

The deal in 2015 crumbled after United States President Donald Trump ditched it during his first term, then announced sanctions that hit Iran’s economy. Iran responded by increasing its nuclear activity. According to diplomats, the E3 will propose a few more months of breathing room before they consider the snapback, pushing the sanctions deadline beyond the current mid-September window.

This is just one month before the October 18 expiration of some key clauses in the original nuclear agreement. But this extension doesn’t come free. Iran would have to agree to restart negotiations with the Trump administration and begin some form of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). “If Iran comes to the table and works with inspectors, we hold off. If not, sanctions are back on,” one diplomat said.

The extension itself would require a new UN Security Council resolution. That’s a whole other political headache, but Europe is more interested in diplomacy than escalation. Meanwhile, Iran warned the UN that if sanctions return, the country is prepared to walk away from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). That would be a big step, as Iran has already frozen ties with the IAEA, especially after Israel and America hit Iranian nuclear sites during the war.

Still, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Wednesday that a new IAEA team would be arriving in Tehran soon to talk about “a new modality” for cooperation. He added, though, that this didn’t mean inspectors would get access to nuclear sites. While Europe waits, Iran has been busy holding separate talks with Russia and China, the other two original parties to the 2015 nuclear deal. These meetings happened in Tehran this week, but so far, nothing public has come out.

Iran and the US had been holding indirect talks since April, but those discussions froze after Israel launched airstrikes that killed several top Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists. That attack shook the regime and deepened mistrust of the US. Trump’s position has remained unchanged. This week, he mentioned that he is in no rush to reopen talks with Iran, noting that all their nuclear sites have been destroyed.

“It’s Tehran that needs to come back,” he said. But IAEA analysts warn that Iran could be back enriching uranium again “in a matter of months.” This is no small matter, considering Iran is yet to explain where over 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium are gone. That amount of uranium is enough to make several nuclear weapons, and officials feel it may have been hidden before the Israeli strikes.

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According to the information provided by the platform, it is refusing to comply as it still doesn’t know the exact details of the charges. X mentioned that the claims look politically charged, noting in its statement that “We remain in the dark about the specific allegations,” while adding, “We have not acceded to the French authorities’ demands.”

“However, based on what we know so far, X believes that this investigation is distorting French law to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech,” the platform added. France is yet to release an official response to the public refusal, but the legal action points to the increased pressure in Europe on Musk’s tech empire.

France piles on Elon Musk’s X amid Trump fallout

When Elon showed up to his final meeting at the White House on May 30, it wasn’t his usual ego or a SpaceX update that caught attention; it was the bruise under his eye. It took a full 40 minutes before anyone at the Oval Office meeting asked about it.“I said, ‘Go ahead, punch me in the face,’ and he did,” referring to his 5-year-old son, also named X. “I didn’t really feel much at the time. And then I guess it bruises up.”

That same day, The New York Times released an article claiming that people around Musk were worried about his erratic behavior, linking it to the use of psychedelic drugs. That image of him at the White House did nothing to calm nerves. The bruise wasn’t the only thing Elon was carrying out of Washington. His relationship with President Donald Trump, which once looked like an unbreakable alliance, went through a nasty, public breakup.

Musk had started to show up in Trump’s inner circle, wearing a hat that supported the President. In a tweet in February, he said, “I love @realdonaldtrump as much as a straight man can love another man.” He also bragged about slashing government spending, even as voters started to turn on the cuts he was making at the time, and that is when the cracks started to form.

However, during the honeymoon phase, advertisers who’d stopped working with X due to Elon’s antisemitic posts returned. SpaceX won government licenses. His net worth soared to $360 billion, boosted by Tesla, SpaceX, and his AI venture, xAI. At the time, things were going well. But now, everything is going the opposite direction with Tesla stock falling, Musk and Trump throwing shots at each other in public.

Now with the France investigation piling on, his businesses are looking more exposed than ever. Elon is rich on paper but cash poor, and heavily dependent on his companies staying in investors’ good graces. But those companies are financially tied together. If one drops, they all feel it. And Trump has plenty of ways to go after Elon if he wants; through military contracts, government funding, or regulatory firepower.

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The pressure’s real this time, as the three countries, called the E3, spoke with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi about the issue. It was the first direct contact since Israel and the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear sites last month. That changed everything.

Now the Europeans are watching Iran’s next move like hawks. A French diplomatic source said the E3 pushed hard for “a verifiable and lasting deal” and warned that the snapback mechanism would be triggered if Iran kept stalling.

Iran fires back at Europe, blames US for walking away

Araghchi took to the blogging platform X and made it clear he wasn’t impressed. He said he told the Europeans: “It was US that left the negotiation table in June this year and chose a military option instead, not Iran.” He said if the E3 or EU wanted to be taken seriously, they should stop throwing around threats.

“They should act responsibly, and put aside the worn-out policies of threat and pressure, including the ‘snap-back’ for which they lack absolutely [any] moral and legal ground,” he added. Araghchi made one thing clear: Iran is open to talking, but only “when the other party is ready for a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial nuclear deal.”

The 2015 nuclear deal is still technically in place, at least for now. The U.S. walked away from it in 2018, but France, the UK, Germany, China, and Russia are still on board. According to the agreement, if Iran breaks the rules, any one of those remaining members can bring back UN sanctions, which would take just 30 days to be effective.

After that, Iran would be back under international pressure with no way out unless it complies. A French source added, “The ministers also reiterated their determination to use the so-called ‘snapback’ mechanism in the absence of concrete progress toward such an agreement by the end of the summer.” No specifics were given, but the message was loud: Europe’s done waiting.

Presently, IAEA inspectors are no longer inside Iran, which is a big problem. No one has eyes on the nuclear facilities, and that makes any real deal basically impossible. Without verification, there’s nothing to talk about. Iran says it is open to diplomacy, but there’s nothing on the calendar.

A sixth round of talks with the U.S. isn’t even close to happening. Diplomats who allegedly spoke anonymously said the August deadline is a long shot. Still, some hope remains. Two European diplomats said they’re trying to sync with Washington in the coming days. The goal remains to get talks going again. But it’s not clear if that’ll happen before August runs out. And if it doesn’t, the snapback will probably go live.

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The notification, formally known as a statement of objections, does not determine the outcome of the probe. Meta will be given enough time to respond and defend itself, the agency added. A Meta spokesperson in Paris did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

France notifies Meta of its breach of competition laws

Media firms in France, including TF1, France TV, and BFM TV, have sued Meta over allegedly illegal business methods, the law firms acting on their behalf said. This comes after a group of 67 media companies, which represent 200 publications, had filed a case in the Paris business tribunal court in April.

These media companies claimed that Meta’s leading position in the digital advertising market was largely due to illegal activities such as massive personal data collection and the utilization of targeted advertising. The company will also face trial this October in Spain over a 551 million euro complaint, equivalent to a $582 million complaint lodged by more than 80 media companies accusing it of unfair competition in advertising.

In addition, other companies have raised complaints against Meta. In February, online rights activists lodged complaints in Europe over Meta’s ad practices, and earlier on, EU antitrust regulators fined Meta and Apple for what they said were breaches of EU law. The media groups in France are represented in the Paris case by US law firm Scott+Scott and French law firm Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier.

The case is not only between the company and the television companies involved, with firms like Figaro, Lagardere, L’Express, La Depeche, Liberation, Radio France, and Centre France also involved. Meanwhile, Alphabet’s Google is also embroiled in a legal fight with Texas and a handful of other states that now threatens to lead to a possible confrontation that might end up costing the company more than $100 billion in fines because it enforced a digital advertising monopoly.

Both sides made dueling demands on Tuesday, July 8, to US District Judge Sean Jordan in the federal court in Plano, Texas. They asked to restrict certain information that jurors can access during the trial, set for Aug. 11, such as potential payments to the states and Google’s financial condition. In 2020, Google was also found guilty of the same scandal. Texas and more than a dozen other US states filed a suit against Google, claiming the company illegally owned advertising markets and violated rules that guard against deceptive business practices.

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According to the French authorities, these items generate indirect income, a logic that the country has put into consideration. With this, French authorities believe that since it does not generate income directly, it should be taxed harder compared to other assets. However, analysts have kicked at the new rule, claiming it could scare investors away from the country’s Bitcoin space while stifling innovation.

France’s Bitcoin tax at a glance

Crypto taxes in France are not new, with the country launching taxes in the industry five years ago. France created the tax law under Article 150 VH bis of its General Tax Code. This means that crypto users must pay taxes provided they earn €305 from trading Bitcoin annually. However, users who earn less than the figure annually are not mandated to pay taxes but must declare all their transactions.

In France, the flat tax system is used to calculate crypto profits, which often puts the combined crypto tax around 30%. When used to calculate income tax, it accumulates to 12.8%, while it accumulates to 17.2% for social security contributions. While it sounds easy to the ears, France decided to include a twist in 2023. In its progressive tax scale, the country’s 2023 tax year (reported in 2024) gave people in the lower brackets under €27,478 a slight tax break. The people only paid 28.2% instead of 30%.

However, the process is quite tedious because it also involves good reporting. The law mandates traders to report every crypto holding outside the country and it is quite a lot considering most exchanges are outside France. The reporting also requires users to complete a form alongside their annual tax returns. A small mistake, and users will be fined €750 for every account not declared, and €1,500 if the account is above €50,000.

The trickier tax details become a daunting task

France’s Bitcoin tax details are trickier because not all crypto transactions are taxable depending on the crypto on the exchange. Although it may look like a way for users to exploit the system, it is a way for the country to provide opportunities for investors to diversify their portfolios without getting punished. Still, users need to be careful when reporting and recording the taxable transactions.

Authorities in France can decide to investigate users if they discover fraud, and investigations usually take about ten years. Incomes from ventures like staking, masternode, or lending are taxed, with the same going for capital gains from NFT sales. If users fail to declare taxes, they are liable to pay up to 80% of the declared amount as penalties. For intentional tax evasion, users are liable to pay about €3 million in fines with a sentence of up to seven years in jail.

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Details of the certificate

The specialized course covers various financial products and services, including equities, bonds, ETFs, funds, and derivatives. It also delves into crypto-assets and digital asset service providers (DASPs). To earn the Responsible Influence Certificate in Financial Advertising, influencers must score at least 75% on a 25-question multiple-choice exam. While the certificate is not legally mandatory, the ARPP reserves the right to revoke it for non-compliance.

The French Senate approved an amendment in May 2023, allowing registered cryptocurrency companies to hire social media influencers for advertising and promotional purposes. This stands in stark contrast to the United Kingdom, where regulators have warned influencers that their promotions could result in up to two years in jail, an unlimited fine, or both. Meanwhile, the European Consumer Organisation is lobbying for a total ban on crypto advertising for influencers.

The AMF and ARPP are also planning to update the ARPP’s Codes on the financial sector and create a new Code for advertising digital assets. These updates are scheduled to take effect from October 1, 2023. A session to raise awareness among ARPP members and content creators is also in the pipeline for this fall, led by experts from both regulatory bodies.

In summary, the Responsible Influence Certificate aims to bring a level of professionalism and accountability to the rapidly growing field of financial influencers. With contrasting regulatory landscapes across Europe, France’s proactive approach could serve as a model for other nations grappling with the challenges posed by financial influencers.

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