Re: Vive la (non) différence
Small correction, which actually makes it worse. What actually came out on Christmas eve is a "décret d'application" - a regulation issued by the government under the previously enacted law. And it gives sole authority to the Prime Minister to allow surveillance requests from a whole bunch of different branches of various ministries. Pretty lamentable, and would have been very acceptable to the ancien régime before the French Revolution. Charles I of England would have found it handy, too.
In fairness though there are a few of the commentards who defend it, being worried about home-grown jihadis.