Juridique et Administratif

🔒 AKTO, an operator of professional branch services, suffered a cyberattack on a Sunday, leading to the encryption of data and extraction of technical and personal information. No funds were stolen, and there's no risk of a "virus" spreading from the attack. Legal actions include a filed complaint and ongoing investigations by the Office Anti-cybercriminalité of the DNPJ, with ANSSI being informed for support. Online services, including "Mon Espace," are suspended, with integrity tests on-going, and CNIL has been notified for GDPR compliance. AKTO is keeping stakeholders updated and will directly inform affected individuals once the extracted data's nature is fully understood.

🛂 Employers face increased contentious actions and sanctions, necessitating thorough pre-employment formalities. Employees commence work without submitting necessary documents, forcing employers between legal obligations and operational needs. Pre-hire checks include verifying work eligibility, especially for foreign nationals, who need valid work permits. The Declaration of Prior Employment (DPAE) is mandatory before hiring to avoid penalties. Post-hire requirements include registration in the unique personnel register, preventive health visits within specific time frames, and compulsory retirement fund affiliation. At hiring, employees must receive a copy of the DPAE, contract, legal notices, and other company policies. Non-compliance risks include disguised work, contract requalification, and inability to terminate trial periods. The GHR Social Department advises on compliance and offers audits to ensure legal adherence.

📊 The Entreprises Générales de France (EGF) and the Observatoire de l’Immobilier Durable (OID) collaborated to interpret European taxonomy regulatory texts. They co-published three notices on operationalizing technical criteria for the "transition to a circular economy" goal. This goal is one of six in the European taxonomy, relevant to the building sector, encompassing waste reduction, sustainable materials use, and recycling principles in construction, renovation, and demolition (3.1, 3.2, 3.3). Updates will reflect regulatory changes and sector feedback, with an OID taxonomy committee meeting scheduled for June 5, 2025.

🏕 Le Territoire de Belfort entreprend la restauration du sentier panoramique du Ballon d’Alsace, visant la labellisation « Grand Site de France ». Créé dans les années 1990, le sentier a subi des dommages dus aux intempéries et à une fréquentation élevée. Les travaux de rénovation commenceront en 2024 avec le soutien d'un bureau d'études spécialisé, intégrant des méthodes respectueuses de l'environnement et du paysage classé.

💻 The European Commission addressed preliminary findings to Alphabet on March 19, 2025, for not complying with the Digital Markets Act regarding two services where it's designated as a gatekeeper. The Commission's preliminary view suggests that Google Search favors Alphabet services over competitors, violating fair and nondiscriminatory treatment required by the Act. Additionally, Google Play is alleged to restrict developers from directing consumers to better offers elsewhere, breaching the same regulation.

🛫 More than half of travelers (51.3%) worry about theft, loss, or damage to their luggage, while nearly 48.7% are concerned about health issues abroad. Additionally, 48.1% seek travel insurance with cancellation coverage, indicating a rising demand for protection against unexpected events. Ahead of summer 2025, Allianz Partners recommends ensuring adequate travel insurance to ensure a stress-free vacation.

📷 Adherents of GHR have been alerted to potential fraudulent use of copyrighted photographs, a practice known as "copyright trolling." In France, photographs are protected under copyright if original and reflect the photographer's personality. Legal precedent (CA Paris, 4th ch., May 24, 2000) states that the work must show the photographer's creative choices. Judges rule that if a culinary image is banal and doesn't reflect the photographer's personality, copyright infringement is not established. If contacted, GHR advises not to respond directly but to call them, not to acknowledge receipt, and to delete any disputed images to show good faith.

🛂 The UK mandates Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for many international travelers to strengthen immigration control and generate revenue. Europeans, previously exempt, must comply starting 2 April 2025. ETA fees, initially at £10 (€12), will increase to £16 (€19) on 9 April 2025, aligning with border policies of countries like the USA and Australia.

💻 During a webinar on January 30, 2025, it was discussed that the French decree from September 26, 2024, which was to modify medical follow-up document templates, would take effect in October 2024. However, due to necessary IT developments, the enforcement was delayed, leading to the September 26 decree's repeal on November 5, 2024. The revised templates, including aptitude and inaptitude notices and follow-up attestations, were published on March 15, 2025, and are set to be enforced from July 1, 2025, to allow software providers time for necessary updates.

📦 Alphabet, parent company of Google, is accused by the European Commission of breaching the Digital Market Act (DMA) by preferentially highlighting its own services, including hotel and transport bookings, in Google Search results. If found guilty, Alphabet could face a fine of up to 10% of its global turnover, which was $350 billion in 2024. Alphabet is now given the opportunity to respond to these preliminary findings.