A leaked French government audit reveals that the Louvre Museum's security system is "outdated and inadequate," with significant gaps in CCTV coverage. The report, conducted by France's Court of Auditors and set for public release next month, found that modernization of security systems had been repeatedly postponed, and cameras were mostly installed only when rooms were refurbished. In the Denon Wing, home to the Mona Lisa, one-third of rooms lack cameras; in the Richelieu Wing, 75 percent of rooms are without them. Only 138 additional cameras have been installed since 2019. The audit was initiated by Louvre president and director Laurence des Cars after she assumed the role in 2021. The findings follow a robbery of French crown jewels from the museum and come amid staff strikes over understaffing and overcrowding.
The audit matters because it exposes systemic security failures at the world's most visited museum, which houses 36,000 works on view at any time. The revelations have renewed criticism of Louvre management and prompted Culture Minister Rachida Dati to pledge a portion of a planned €700–800 million renovation budget to address security gaps, along with a government inquiry. The CFDT trade union is calling for an independent audit and increased staffing. The incident highlights broader challenges facing major museums balancing record visitor numbers with the preservation and protection of priceless cultural heritage.