An innovative California-based startup entrusted Relians with a high-stakes mission of strategic lobbying and institutional advocacy, aiming to promote its illegal file recognition technology during the parliamentary review of a French bill on internet regulation.
At the time of our engagement, the technology was virtually unknown to public authorities and entirely absent from parliamentary discussions. Yet, it offered a mature, effective, and regulation-compatible solution to a critical issue: the identification of illicit online content, including pirated files and materials harmful to public order. The objective of our mission was therefore clear — to secure institutional recognition of this technology as a credible alternative that aligned with the government’s goals.
Context and Challenges
Amid growing concerns over online piracy and the spread of unlawful content on the internet, the French government launched a legislative initiative designed to strengthen content detection capabilities and enforce digital public order. This reform aimed to modernize how illegal content is regulated and removed from digital platforms, with a specific focus on copyright protection and the fight against cybercrime.
However, the initial version of the draft bill included only a limited set of technological options — primarily based on tools already known to legislators or advocated by domestic stakeholders. As a result, cutting-edge international solutions such as our client’s were entirely overlooked, despite their advanced development and proven effectiveness.
Several structural challenges had to be addressed:
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The technology, although operationally mature, had no prior exposure to French or European institutional frameworks;
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The legislative process was already well underway, with limited political space for introducing new approaches;
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Public authorities were cautious about integrating foreign technological actors into sensitive regulatory discussions.
To overcome these obstacles, it was essential not only to present the technical merits of the solution but also to build institutional trust and legitimacy.
Our Mission
We were engaged as part of a lobbying and interest representation mandate to influence the legislative process, aiming to ensure the inclusion of our client’s technology within the regulatory scope of the draft law. Our intervention was structured around four complementary levers:
- Strategic and Institutional Assessment
We conducted a thorough review of the draft bill and its accompanying parliamentary debates, identifying both the regulatory intentions of the government and the implicit technological biases embedded in the text. Our analysis revealed a significant gap: a lack of openness to alternative, innovative technologies capable of addressing the same regulatory goals more effectively. This insight enabled us to define a targeted influence strategy. - Showcasing Technological Innovation
We developed a detailed and technically robust advocacy package that included real-world demonstrations, technical specifications, comparative performance data, and relevant use cases. The goal was to present our client’s solution not only as operationally reliable but also as compatible with the French legal and regulatory ecosystem. This documentation served as the foundation for our outreach to political and institutional stakeholders. - Managing Institutional Dialogue
We mapped all key public decision-makers — including parliamentarians, senior ministry officials, advisors at the Élysée Palace, and representatives of digital policy agencies — and organized a series of targeted meetings to present the technology and its potential role in implementing the new law. Throughout this dialogue, we adopted a proactive, transparent, and constructive approach, responding to technical questions, regulatory concerns, and policy objectives. - Influencing the Legislative Framework
As a result of our sustained engagement, the legislative process was progressively opened up to accommodate a broader range of technological options. The final version of the bill included new provisions on technological neutrality and compatibility clauses, mandating the future regulatory authority to assess solutions based on performance rather than predefined models. This created an institutional opening for our client’s technology to be formally evaluated and adopted in future regulatory implementation.
Results
Thanks to our strategic guidance and lobbying efforts, the startup gained official recognition as a legitimate actor in the French and European digital policy landscape.
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For the startup: an enhanced reputation and positioning within the European market, as well as increased potential for institutional and commercial partnerships in France and beyond;
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For the legislative process: a more balanced, inclusive, and innovation-friendly law that supports fair competition among technological solutions;
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For public authorities: a broader and more resilient toolkit to address the challenges of regulating online content in a fast-evolving digital environment.
An Emblematic Case
This mission exemplifies Relians’ ability to guide technology innovators through the complexities of public regulation. By combining precise regulatory insight, strategic communication, and structured institutional dialogue, we successfully transformed a little-known innovation into an officially acknowledged solution.
At Relians, we empower emerging technologies to navigate even the most demanding institutional landscapes. We help our clients anticipate and influence regulatory environments, especially in the context of legislative change — where timing, trust, and targeted advocacy are key to success.
