The recent decision by France to reject a proposed backdoor mandate in encryption has sparked significant discussion about the understanding of encryption among politicians and the implications for privacy and security. Many commentators suggest that the push for backdoors indicates a fundamental misunderstanding of how encryption works and a failure to grasp its importance for national security and personal privacy. Politicians' persistent requests for backdoors are viewed as misguided, especially given the geopolitical climate, where reliance on US tech services is seen as dangerous for European sovereignty. The debate has highlighted the political divisions in the National Assembly, with concerns that future pressures, especially following a potential terrorist attack, could lead to a change in stance regarding encryption policies.