The documentary opens with a ransomware attack that took place in France in December 2023. A single click by an employee at a client company of COAXIS, an SME, based in Lot-et-Garonne, brings the business to a standstill and, through a domino effect, disrupts operations for 350,000 customers across France just days before Christmas. A race against the clock then begins between experts from Orange Cyberdefense and Coaxis, on one side, and the LockBit cybercriminal group on the other, as they work to protect customer data and rebuild 25 years of IT systems in just one month.
The film also charts the massive international manhunt for the LockBit group. Traveling from London and New York to Paris, Stockholm, and Washington D.C., director Ludoc (co-founder of Studio Bagel) and defense journalist, Romain Mielcarek, interview 18 high-level experts, including FBI agents and investigators from OFAC.
By exposing the economic, psychological, and societal fallout of these attacks, "Don’t Go to the Police" argues that cybersecurity is a collective responsibility. From citizens and employees to CEOs and institutions, everyone has a role to play in building a shared digital shield.
Images often speak louder than words, and this documentary aims to spark a shift in perception. Despite growing awareness, cyber-extortion has surged by 45%[1] in 2025, shaking economies, democracies, and public trust. The investigation highlights how phishing —now supercharged by Artificial Intelligence — has become one of the most effective attack vectors today.
Hugues Foulon, CEO of Orange Cyberdefense, says:"Our ambition is to take cybersecurity out of the 'expert bubble' and show the public that it is a major societal issue, much like narcotics trafficking. By putting a face on a reality that is often misunderstood, we want to highlight that basic digital hygiene is no longer an option, but a necessity for everyone. Together, we must build a cyber-shield capable of protecting our economies and our democracies."
Release Information:The documentary is available on a dedicated webpage in French, English, and German to ensure coverage across major European markets:
Learn MoreOrange Cyberdefense is the expert cybersecurity business unit of the Orange Group, providing managed security, managed threat detection & response services to organizations around the globe. As Europe’s go-to security provider, we strive to build a safer digital society. We are a threat research and intelligence-driven security provider offering unparalleled access to current and emerging threats.
Our organization retains a 25+ year track record in information security, 250+ researchers and analysts 17 SOCs, 15 CyberSOCs and CERTs distributed across 11 location in the world and sales and services support in 160 countries. We are proud to say we can offer global protection with local expertise and support our customers throughout the entire threat lifecycle. Orange Cyberdefense has built close partnerships with numerous industry-leading technology vendors like Microsoft Security.