General Directorate for Internal Security
{{Short description|French interior intelligence agency}}
{{redirect|DCRI|another use|Duke Clinical Research Institute}}
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name = General Directorate for Internal Security
|nativename = Direction générale de la Sécurité intérieure
|nativename_a =
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|logo = Logo de la Direction Générale de la Sécurité Intérieure.svg
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|formed = {{Start date and age|2014|05|12|df=y}}
|preceding1 =
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|dissolved =
|superseding =
|jurisdiction = French Ministry of the Interior
|headquarters = 84 Rue de Villiers, Levallois-Perret, France
|employees = > 5000
|budget = €300 million
|minister1_name = Bruno Retailleau
|minister1_pfo =
|minister2_name =
|minister2_pfo =
|chief1_name = {{Interlanguage link|Céline Berthon|fr|Céline Berthon}}
|chief1_position =
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|website = {{URL|dgsi.interieur.gouv.fr}}
|footnotes =
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|parent_department=
}}
The General Directorate for Internal Security ({{langx|fr|link=no|Direction générale de la Sécurité intérieure}}, {{IPA|fr|diʁɛksjɔ̃ ʒeneʁal də la sekyʁite ɛ̃teʁjœʁ|pron}}, DGSI; also known as the Directorate-General for Internal Security in English)[https://www.dgsi.interieur.gouv.fr/en/our-missions Direction Générale de la Sécurité Intérieur - Our Missions]. Retrieved 18 November 2023 [https://web.archive.org/web/20231118195352/https://www.dgsi.interieur.gouv.fr/en/our-missions Archive] is a French security agency. It is charged with counter-espionage, counter-terrorism, countering cybercrime and surveillance of potentially threatening groups, organisations and social phenomena.
The agency was created in 2008 under the name Central Directorate of Interior Intelligence ({{langx|fr|link=no|Direction centrale du renseignement intérieur}}, DCRI), merging the Direction centrale des renseignements généraux (RG) and the Direction de la surveillance du territoire (DST) of the National Police. It acquired its current name in 2014, with a small structural shift: contrary to the DCRI which was part of the National Police, the DGSI reports directly to the Ministry of the Interior.[http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2013/06/17/reforme-du-renseignement-manuel-valls-choisit-la-continuite_3431299_3224.html Réforme du renseignement : Manuel Valls choisit la continuité] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409174534/http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2013/06/17/reforme-du-renseignement-manuel-valls-choisit-la-continuite_3431299_3224.html |date=2020-04-09 }}. Le Monde, 17 June 2013.
The DGSI is headed by General Director {{Interlanguage link|Céline Berthon|fr|Céline Berthon}}. The agency is informally known as the "RG", a nickname formerly used for the Direction centrale des renseignements généraux which merged into it.
The DGSI performs among the others the following tasks:
prevents and halts any action or interference from foreign entities; fights acts of terrorism or acts that threaten the security and sustainability of the state or undermine the integrity of the territory; participates in the surveillance of radicalised individuals and groups who may turn to violence and threaten national security; fights against international criminal organisations that may have an impact on national security. As Aleksander Olech, the DGSI is the only secret service in the French Republic to cooperate directly with judicial institutions (l’institution judiciaire).Aleksander Olech, French and Polish fight against terrorism, Poznan 2022, p. 67-69; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359135918_French_and_Polish_fight_against_terrorism {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306234616/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359135918_French_and_Polish_fight_against_terrorism |date=2023-03-06 }}
History
= ''Direction centrale du renseignement intérieur'' (DCRI) =
The fusion of the RG and the DST into the Direction centrale du renseignement intérieur (DCRI) was a wish held by Nicolas Sarkozy when he was France's Minister of the Interior.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} The change was officially launched by the Council of Ministers on 20 June 2007, shortly after the election of Sarkozy as President. Minister of the Interior Michèle Alliot-Marie,{{cite web |title=Discours de la ministre française de l'intérieur du 17 septembre 2007 |editor=ministère français de l'intérieur |url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Archives/Archives-de-Michele-Alliot-Marie-2007-2009/Interventions/13.09.2007-La-reorganisation-des-services-de-renseignement |date=13 September 2007 |access-date=10 April 2013 |archive-date=25 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525232414/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Archives/Archives-de-Michele-Alliot-Marie-2007-2009/Interventions/13.09.2007-La-reorganisation-des-services-de-renseignement |url-status=live }} however, was reputedly reluctant regarding this fusion and ordered the General Director of the Police Nationale, Frédéric Péchenard, to undertake a study of the proposal.[https://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/politique/20070823.OBS1734/le-projet-de-fusion-rg-dstprovoque-des-reticences.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006192531/https://www.nouvelobs.com/politique/20070823.OBS1734/le-projet-de-fusion-rg-dst-provoque-des-reticences.html?_staled_= |date=2024-10-06 }} NouvelObs, 23 août 2007.
The creation of DCRI was announced on 13 September 2007 by Alliot-Marie. The founding texts of the DCRI were adopted 7 April 2008, to become effective 1 July 2008.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}
A fraction of the former functionaries of the Renseignement général (General Intelligence, RG) were brought in from the Sub-Direction of General Information (SDIG) from the Central Direction of Public Security, represented in the departments of metropolitan France and in its overseas territories by the departmental services of General Information, in the care of the departmental directorates of Public Security.{{cite web |first=Camille |last=Polloni |url=http://www.rue89.com/2012/07/27/grosse-deprime-des-ex-rg-pestiferes-du-renseignement-francais-234189 |title=Grosse déprime des ex-RG, "pestiférés" du renseignement français |publisher=Rue89 | date=27 July 2012 |access-date=1 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630062350/http://www.rue89.com/2012/07/27/grosse-deprime-des-ex-rg-pestiferes-du-renseignement-francais-234189 |archive-date=June 30, 2013}}
Bernard Squarcini, director of DST, was named head of the DCRI in 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/WAspad/UnTexteDeJorf?numjo=IOCC0815244D|title=Décret du 2 juillet 2008 portant nomination d'un directeur des services actifs de la police nationale - M. Squarcini (Bernard)|access-date=2015-10-12|archive-date=2019-12-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216031510/https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000019123475&dateTexte=&categorieLien=id|url-status=live}} He was assisted from the outset by two central adjunct directors, René Bailly, former functionary of the RG, and Patrick Calvar, former functionary of the DST. René Bailly then left the DCRI in the month of June 2009 to take leadership of the new direction of intelligence of the Paris police (DRPP),{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} Patrick Calvar named director of intelligence of external security(DGSE) is replaced in his post at the beginning of 2010 by Frédéric Veaux, until then sub-director of the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}
One of the first media appearances of the new DCRI was the arrest of Julien Coupat in the context of the "Tarnac Affair".
In December 2008, the leadership of the DCRI made priority of surveilling an impending plot orchestrated by an Islamist in the region of Paris.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}
By a decree of 31 May 2012, Patrick Calvar, former adjunct operational director of the DCRI and director of intelligence at the DGSE since 2009, was named central director of interior intelligence, replacing Squarcini.{{cite web
|url= https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/patrick-calvar-un-homme-de-renseignement-a-la-tete-de-la-dcri_1120430.html
|title= Patrick Calvar, un homme de renseignement à la tête de la DCRI
|date= 30 May 2012
|editor= L'Express
|editor-link= L'Express
|access-date= 30 May 2012
|archive-date= 6 October 2024
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20241006192649/https://www.lexpress.fr/societe/patrick-calvar-un-homme-de-renseignement-a-la-tete-de-la-dcri_1120430.html
|url-status= live
}}{{cite web|url=http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/WAspad/UnTexteDeJorf?numjo=INTX1224685D|title=Décret du 31 mai 2012 portant cessation de fonctions du directeur central du renseignement intérieur et portant nomination d'un préfet hors cadre - M. Squarcini (Bernard)|access-date=2015-10-12|archive-date=2024-10-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006192651/https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000025944814|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/WAspad/UnTexteDeJorf?numjo=INTK1224149D|title=Décret du 31 mai 2012 portant nomination du directeur central du renseignement intérieur - M. Calvar (Patrick)|access-date=2015-10-12|archive-date=2024-10-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006192638/https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000025944806|url-status=live}}
= ''Direction générale de la Sécurité intérieure'' (DGSI) =
After the left-wing Parti Socialiste (France) taking control of both the parliament and the presidency in the 2012 presidential and legislative elections, a reassessment the role of the DCRI was sought. In May 2013, a bipartisan parliamentary report on the intelligence services was prepared by members of parliament Jean-Jacques Urvoas and Patrice Verchère.{{cite web|url=http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/14/controle/lois/renseignement.asp|title=Évaluation du cadre juridique applicable aux services de renseignement|work=Assemblée nationale|access-date=2015-10-11|archive-date=2015-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924005337/http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/14/controle/lois/renseignement.asp|url-status=live}} The report was critical of the DCRI's functioning and particularly their failure to prevent the Toulouse and Montauban shootings of March 2012. On 17 June 2012 Minister of the Interior Manuel Valls announced a reform of French domestic intelligence. This reform was made official by decree no. 2014-445 from 30 April 2014, which took effect on 12 May 2014. The DCRI became the Direction générale de la Sécurité intérieure (DGSI), no longer under the authority of the General Director of the Police Nationale but reporting directly to the Minister of the Interior, giving it increased authority. The existing operatives and contractors (engineers, programmers, linguists) remained largely in place.{{cite web|url=http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/WAspad/UnTexteDeJorf?numjo=INTX1406891D|title=Décret 2014-445 from April 30 relative to the missions and to the organisation of the DGSI.|access-date=2015-10-12|archive-date=2019-12-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216031456/https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000028887486&dateTexte=&categorieLien=id|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2013/06/17/97001-20130617FILWWW00772-valls-reorganise-la-filiere-du-renseignement.php|title=Valls réorganise le renseignement|editor=AFP et Le Figaro|date=17 June 2013|access-date=11 October 2015|archive-date=29 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429103737/http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2013/06/17/97001-20130617FILWWW00772-valls-reorganise-la-filiere-du-renseignement.php|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2013/06/17/reforme-du-renseignement-manuel-valls-choisit-la-continuite_3431299_3224.html|title=Réforme du renseignement : Manuel Valls choisit la continuité|editor=Le Monde|date=17 June 2013|author=Laurent Borredon|newspaper=Le Monde.fr|access-date=9 August 2013|archive-date=9 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409174534/http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2013/06/17/reforme-du-renseignement-manuel-valls-choisit-la-continuite_3431299_3224.html|url-status=live}} The recently installed head of the DCRI Patrick Calvar also continued in his function until 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/WAspad/UnTexteDeJorf?numjo=INTA1406390D|title=Décret du 7 mai 2014 portant nomination du directeur général de la Sécurité intérieure - M. CALVAR (Patrick)|access-date=2015-10-12|archive-date=2019-12-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216031507/https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000028910722&dateTexte=&categorieLien=id|url-status=live}}
Controversy
In April 2013, the French Wikipedia article on the military radio station of Pierre-sur-Haute attracted attention after the {{lang|fr|DCRI}} attempted to have the article removed from the French Wikipedia. The Wikimedia Foundation asked the intelligence agency what precise parts of the article were a problem in the eyes of the intelligence agency. The {{lang|fr|DCRI}} refused to give these details, and repeated its demand for total deletion of the article.
The Wikimedia Foundation refused to delete the article, and the {{lang|fr|DCRI}} pressured an administrator, threatening detention and prosecution,{{cite web | url=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Administrators&oldid=548766585 | title=Wikipedia:Administrators | author= | date=April 5, 2013 | work=English Wikipedia | publisher=Wikimedia Foundation | access-date=5 April 2013 | archive-date=16 February 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216060810/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Administrators | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://fr.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikip%C3%A9dia:Administrateur&oldid=91399483 | title=Wikipédia:Administrateur | author= | date=March 28, 2013 | work=French Wikipedia | publisher=Wikimedia Foundation | language=fr | access-date=5 April 2013 | archive-date=8 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608013805/https://fr.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikip%C3%A9dia%3AAdministrateur | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://fr.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sp%C3%A9cial%3AJournal&type=rights&page=Utilisateur%3ARemi+Mathis&year=2007&month=10 | title=Journal des modifications de droits d'utilisateurs | author= | date=October 18, 2007 | work=French Wikipedia | publisher=Wikimedia Foundation | language=fr | access-date=5 April 2013 | archive-date=18 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618030805/http://fr.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sp%C3%A9cial%3AJournal | url-status=live }} of the French language Wikipedia and resident of France, into removing the article.{{cite web | url=http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Franzoesischer-Geheimdienst-verlangt-Loeschung-eines-Wikipedia-Artikels-1836501.html | title=Französischer Geheimdienst verlangt Löschung eines Wikipedia-Artikels | last1=Kleinz | first1=Torsten | date=April 6, 2013 | work=Heise Online | publisher=Heise | language=de | access-date=5 April 2013 | archive-date=17 April 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130417115058/http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Franzoesischer-Geheimdienst-verlangt-Loeschung-eines-Wikipedia-Artikels-1836501.html | url-status=live }}
According to a statement by the Wikimedia Foundation,
The DCRI summoned a Wikipedia volunteer in their offices on April 4th [2013]. This volunteer, which was one of those having access to the tools that allow the deletion of pages, was forced to delete the article while in the DCRI offices, on the understanding that he would have been held in custody and prosecuted if he did not comply. Under pressure, he had no other choice than to delete the article, despite explaining to the DCRI this is not how Wikipedia works. He warned the other sysops that trying to undelete the article would engage their responsibility before the law. This volunteer had no link with that article, having never edited it and not even knowing of its existence before entering the DCRI offices. He was chosen and summoned because he was easily identifiable, given his regular promotional actions of Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects in France.
Later, the article was restored by other Wikipedia contributors.{{cite web | url=http://blog.wikimedia.fr/dcri-threat-a-sysop-to-delete-a-wikipedia-article-5493 | publisher=Wikimédia France | title=French homeland intelligence threatens a volunteer sysop to delete a Wikipedia Article | access-date=6 April 2013 | archive-date=20 April 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420062213/http://blog.wikimedia.fr/dcri-threat-a-sysop-to-delete-a-wikipedia-article-5493 | url-status=live }}[https://www.lemonde.fr/technologies/article/2013/04/06/la-dcri-accusee-d-avoir-force-illegalement-la-suppression-d-un-article-de-wikipedia_3155405_651865.html "La DCRI accusée d'avoir illégalement forcé la suppression d'un article de Wikipédia"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621065003/https://www.lemonde.fr/technologies/article/2013/04/06/la-dcri-accusee-d-avoir-force-illegalement-la-suppression-d-un-article-de-wikipedia_3155405_651865.html |date=2019-06-21 }} Le Monde, 6 April 2013 {{in lang|fr}}{{cite web | url=https://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/04/06/139216/ | publisher=Slashdot | title=French Intelligence Agency Forces Removal of Wikipedia Entry | date=6 April 2013 | access-date=6 April 2013 | archive-date=6 October 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006192531/https://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/04/06/139216/ | url-status=live }}{{cite web | language=fr | url=http://blog.wikimedia.fr/la-dcri-menace-un-administrateur-de-wikipedia-pour-supprimer-un-article-5477 | publisher=Wikimédia France | title=La DCRI menace un administrateur de Wikipédia pour supprimer un article | access-date=6 April 2013 | archive-date=17 April 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130417090421/http://blog.wikimedia.fr/la-dcri-menace-un-administrateur-de-wikipedia-pour-supprimer-un-article-5477 | url-status=live }} The French Ministry of the Interior told Agence France-Presse that for the moment it did not wish to comment on the incident.{{cite news|url=http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/societe/20130406.AFP8963/la-dcri-accusee-d-avoir-fait-supprimer-un-article-sur-wikipedia.html|title=La DCRI accusée d'avoir fait supprimer un article sur Wikipedia|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=6 April 2013|language=fr|access-date=6 April 2013|archive-date=23 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023231147/http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/societe/20130406.AFP8963/la-dcri-accusee-d-avoir-fait-supprimer-un-article-sur-wikipedia.html|url-status=live}}
Investigations
The DGSI was tasked with co-leading the terror investigation into the 2017 Notre Dame attack together with the National Centre for Counter Terrorism.{{cite news|last1=Emmanuel Jarry|last2=Yves Clarisse|title=Enquête antiterroriste sur l'agression de policiers à Paris|url=http://fr.reuters.com/article/topNews/idFRKBN18X202-OFRTP|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606171430/http://fr.reuters.com/article/topNews/idFRKBN18X202-OFRTP|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 June 2017|access-date=10 September 2017|work=Reuters|agency=Service France|language=fr|quote=Cette enquête a été confiée à la section antiterroriste de la Brigade criminelle et à la Direction générale de la sécurité intérieure (DGSI), a-t-on annoncé de même source.}}{{cite magazine|title=France mulls security measures after attack near Notre Dame Cathedral|url=http://www.newsday.com/news/world/france-mulls-security-measures-after-attack-near-notre-dame-cathedral-1.13711124|access-date=10 September 2017|via=AP|magazine=Newsweek|date=6 June 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Emmanuel Jarry|last2=Yves Clarisse|title=Enquête antiterroriste sur l'agression de policiers à Paris|url=https://fr.reuters.com/article/topNews/idFRKBN18X202-OFRTP|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606171430/http://fr.reuters.com/article/topNews/idFRKBN18X202-OFRTP|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 June 2017|access-date=9 June 2017|work=Reuters|agency=Service France|language=fr|quote=Cette enquête a été confiée à la section antiterroriste de la Brigade criminelle et à la Direction générale de la sécurité intérieure (DGSI), a-t-on annoncé de même source.}}
See also
{{Portal|France}}
{{clear}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.dgsi.interieur.gouv.fr/ Official website (french)]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090803125228/http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_la_une/toute_l_actualite/securite-interieure/creation-dcri Official announcement of the agency's launch] on the website of the French Ministry of the Interior.
- [http://www.intelligenceonline.com/search/search.aspx?keywords=DGSI News coverage] on Intelligence Online
{{Intelligence agencies of France}}
{{Law enforcement agencies of France}}
{{National intelligence agencies in Europe}}
{{Domestic national intelligence agencies}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Direction Centrale Du Renseignement Interieur}}
Category:2008 establishments in France