French court convicts 10 for cyberbullying of first lady Brigitte Macron
A Paris court has found ten individuals guilty of cyberbullying for their role in an online campaign spreading false claims about France's First Lady Brigitte Macron. The sentences include suspended prison terms and mandatory awareness training, as the Macrons pursue a separate defamation case in the United States.
A criminal court in Paris has convicted ten people for participating in a coordinated online harassment campaign targeting France's First Lady, Brigitte Macron. The defendants were found guilty of cyberbullying for disseminating false allegations that she is transgender and a pedophile, part of a years-long disinformation effort.
The verdict and sentences
On Monday, the court handed down suspended prison sentences ranging from four to eight months. Additional penalties included mandatory awareness courses on the impacts of cyberbullying and the suspension of the offenders' social media accounts. Speaking publicly before the verdict, Brigitte Macron expressed her desire to set an example, particularly for young people vulnerable to online harassment.
Ongoing legal battles in France and the US
This case is one front in a broader legal effort by the French presidential couple. In July, they filed a lawsuit in a Delaware court against right-wing American podcaster Candace Owens, accusing her of defamation for amplifying the false claims in an eight-part series. Furthermore, the Macrons are appealing to France's highest court after a Paris appeals court overturned the convictions of two women who originated similar allegations in a 2021 YouTube video.
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A case study in combating disinformation
The convictions highlight the legal recourse available in some jurisdictions against malicious online disinformation targeting public figures. While nations have different legal standards for speech and defamation, the case underscores the growing challenge of transnational cyber harassment. For observer states like Türkiye, which also contend with harmful online narratives, the French approach demonstrates one model of using the judicial system to establish consequences for coordinated digital attacks that cross into defamation and harassment.
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