French spy tech firm taken to court over Egypt sales

The filing, announced late on Thursday by the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies [CIHRS], relates to the potential role that the technology could play in widespread oppression in Egypt.

French company Amesys was being investigated for selling electronic surveillance systems to Libya when it was run by long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi before his 2011 overthrow and killing.

The company has since changed its name to Nexa Technologies in order to continue selling its services to new Egyptian authorities.

The request for a criminal investigation involves the company's complicity to torture and carry out enforced disappearances.

"The International Federation for Human Rights and its partners filed a complaint with the specialised unit responsible for prosecuting crimes against humanity within the Paris Prosecutor's office, requesting that a criminal investigation be opened for complicity to torture and enforced disappearances in Egypt," CIHRS said in a statement.

"However, the opening of criminal proceedings alone would not mask the lack of political willingness on the part of the French authorities, who should have prevented the export of ‘dual-use’ surveillance technologies by the former managers of Amesys to Egypt, where oppression has been in full swing since General al-Sissi's coup d'etat."

Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has overseen a $10 billion military build-up in recent years, including French-made Rafale fighter jets and helicopter carriers.

Agencies contributed to this report.