French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has opened the national consultation on the digital society in the symbolic premises of NUMA, the start-up incubator created by  Silicon Sentier, an association in the center of Paris.

The ultimate goal is to put France to the top of nations enjoying the benefits of digital technology while bringing innovation. Two topics are now open to discussion: growth, innovation and disruption, until November 19, and fairness in the digital environment until November 28.

This consultation will be driven by the Conseil National du Numérique (Digital National Council) until the beginning of 2015. It will provide useful feedback to the inter-ministerial task force run by the Secretaries of State Axelle Lemaire, in charge of digital matters, and Thierry Mandon, in charge of state reform and simplification. It should lead to real proposals of actions for the government and may lead to the adoption of a law.

Data are are at the heart of the some of the topics open for debate, including:

• "the protection of personal data and of communications, rights and public liberties in the digital era (strengthening of authorities, simplification of support to business, territoriality, trusted third-party, secrecy of private correspondence)”;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
  
• data as change-driver of the public action and of the economy (new services, public interest data, and e-health), and
• status of large digital platforms (consumer law, business and competition law, cybersecurity, protection of personal data).

 Those who want to contribute to the debate can register here.