It is strictly regulated.
Web scraping in France operates under strict EU and national frameworks, primarily the GDPR, CNIL guidelines, and the 2026 Digital Services Act (DSA) transposition. While automated data collection isn’t outright banned, compliance hinges on consent, purpose limitation, and data minimization. Unauthorized scraping risks fines up to €4% of global turnover under GDPR or €20M, whichever is higher. French courts increasingly enforce these rules, particularly against large-scale commercial scraping without legal basis.
Key Regulations for Web Scraping in France
- GDPR Compliance (Art. 5-6): Scraped personal data must have a lawful basis (e.g., legitimate interest with a DPIA) and be processed proportionately. Publicly accessible data doesn’t waive GDPR obligations.
- CNIL Guidelines (2024): Require transparency in data collection methods, opt-out mechanisms for individuals, and prior consultation for high-risk scraping projects. Automated tools must log user requests.
- Digital Services Act (DSA, 2026): Mandates platforms enable data portability and restrict scraping of protected content (e.g., trade secrets, copyrighted material). Violations trigger penalties under French Loi n°2024-364.
Additional constraints apply under French Code de la consommation (anti-unfair competition) and Code de la propriété intellectuelle (copyright infringement for dynamic content). Commercial scrapers must register with the CNIL if processing >100,000 records annually.