Air France used to spy on on first class passengers

[WildaBeast]

This discussion came up on another board and I thought it might be good topic for this board. Supposedly, up until the 1990s Air France placed hidden microphones on their planes, particularly in the first class cabins, in order to spy on foreign businessmen and gain information that could potentially be useful to French companies.

The only information the person on the other board could find was this article, which basically is just some allegations that Air France denied.

[RichardM]

Going on memory, usually faulty, Air France was one of several airlines we were told not to fly on for business back when I had a security clearance.

[GenYus234]

Was that based on any substantive data or just "better safe than sorry"?