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France Bans Mobile Phones During Cabinet Sessions

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Today in international tech news: France bans mobile phones during cabinet sessions; HP coughs up nine figures to make a bribery fiasco go away; a Swiss-built, solar-powered plane may fly around the globe; and Canada shuts down its online tax-filing service amid security fears.



French President Francois Hollande has imposed a ban on mobile phones during cabinet sessions, forcing ministers to leave their devices at the door.
The move is designed to help "focus on what we must do," a spokesperson said, and will ensure that government folk "talk and listen to what is said and will no longer be able to tap away at this magnificent tool."
French politicians have indeed been caught fiddling on devices when they should be, you know, executing the will of the people: Two French Members of Parliament last year were photographed playing Scrabble on devices during a gay marriage debate.
Of course, France is far from the only country where politicians have become distracted by phones, tablets and the like. China, for instance, recently prohibited officials at the National People's Congress from having smartphones. India, for its part, has had a problem with MPs peeking at porn in Parliament.

[Source: The Guardian]

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