Paris: French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has ordered the creation of an emergency team to respond to cyberattacks targeting France, French broadcaster BFMTV reported Wednesday. In a letter sent to the secretary-general of the General Secretariat for National Defense and Security, Lecornu called for a more rapid and stronger operational response to cyberattacks targeting the state.

According to Anadolu Agency, Lecornu stated that attempts at attacks, against which the National Agency for the Security of Information Systems (ANSSI) fights daily, along with recurring intrusions and data theft, are weakening the credibility of the state. Lecornu emphasized the urgent need to design and implement a more reactive and stronger operational response to the cyberattacks that the state is currently facing.

Lecornu ordered the creation of "a contact team" composed of ANSSI officials that would intervene on the front line in cases of suspected serious attacks on the integrity of state information systems. He called for the proposal to be prepared urgently, with an initial plan to be presented to him within two days.

The Prime Minister expressed his expectation of ANSSI's full commitment to this crisis mission. The call to action follows several recent cyberattacks targeting French government websites, including the tax administration's website.