Paris | International News
A French court has convicted 10 individuals for cyberbullying France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron, after they spread false and defamatory claims about her identity on social media platforms.
According to the court ruling, the accused circulated misinformation alleging that Brigitte Macron was born male — a claim the court described as entirely false and malicious.
Among those convicted were eight men and two women.
What Was the Case About?
Investigators found that the accused falsely claimed Brigitte Macron’s real name was Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is actually the name of her elder brother. The court ruled that the misinformation campaign amounted to online harassment and character assassination.
The judges emphasized that such false narratives seriously harm personal dignity and democratic discourse.
Court Sentences
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One individual sentenced to six months in prison
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Others received eight-month suspended sentences
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All fined by the court
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Mandatory cyberbullying awareness training
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Six-month ban from social media platform X (formerly Twitter)
Related Case in the United States
In a related development, Brigitte Macron and French President Emmanuel Macron have filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States against American podcaster Candace Owens.
The lawsuit alleges that Owens repeatedly promoted the same false claims across her podcast and social media channels. The case is currently under review by a U.S. court.