Police Seizure of Student Photo Directories Sparks Outrage in Brest

A major controversy has erupted in Brest, France, following the police seizure of school photo directories containing the names, first names, and photographs of nearly 4,500 students. The incident took place at the Kerichen school complex, which serves as the epicenter of recent student protests and encompasses the Vauban, Lesven, and La Pérouse high schools.

On Wednesday, November 4, two plainclothes police officers entered the administrative offices of three institutions within the complex without notifying the school principals. The officers executed a judicial requisition to collect the personal data of the students, triggering widespread concern among families and educational staff who gathered to protest what they described as mass data collection and profiling.

Marie Dagnaud, a regional co-secretary for the CGT Educ'action union and a teacher at Vauban High School, criticized the operation during a demonstration, calling the measure completely disproportionate. Several labor unions and the local section of the Human Rights League issued statements condemning the action, and multiple organizations announced their intention to contact France's data protection authority, the CNIL.

Parents and local representatives also voiced serious concerns over privacy and the legality of the operation. One parent noted that personal data was previously believed to be secure, adding that legal experts had been consulted to determine whether proper procedures were followed. Julie Le Goïc, a literature and history teacher who also serves as a local municipal councilor, questioned the vast volume of data collected without a prior investigation, asking whether thousands of identity photos needed to be seized because a small number of individuals committed an offense.

In response to the backlash, the principals of the affected schools sent a letter to families attempting to reassure them by describing the action as a targeted and supervised measure. Meanwhile, the public prosecutor of Brest, Stéphane Kellenberger, confirmed that an ongoing criminal investigation against persons unknown is underway to carry out necessary verifications and inquiries.

Legal advocates have raised questions regarding the protection of facial images under European directives, which classify such photographs as sensitive personal data that should only be obtained through judicial requisition in cases of absolute necessity. As investigations continue, students and union members remain mobilized, demanding further explanations regarding the scope and justification of the data collection.