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A Paris court on Monday convicted 10 individuals for cyber harassment against Brigitte Macron, France’s first lady, after they spread false and defamatory claims that she is a transgender woman who was born male. The ruling marks a significant legal victory for Brigitte Macron and President Emmanuel Macron in their long-running battle against online disinformation, harassment, and gender-based attacks.
The eight men and two women were found guilty of posting malicious online comments questioning Brigitte Macron’s gender and sexuality, including the false allegation that she was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is in fact the name of her older brother. The court also ruled that some comments equating the couple’s 24-year age difference with “paedophilia” constituted serious harassment rather than satire, rejecting the defendants’ claims that their statements were humorous or protected speech.
Sentences varied among the convicted. One defendant received a six-month prison sentence without suspension, while others were handed suspended jail terms of up to eight months. Additional penalties included fines, mandatory cyber harassment awareness courses, and bans for five individuals from using the social media platform on which the abusive content was posted.
The verdict comes as the Macrons pursue a separate high-profile U.S. defamation lawsuit against right-wing influencer and podcaster Candace Owens, who has also promoted similar false claims about Brigitte Macron. The case has drawn international attention amid broader debates over online speech, disinformation, and freedom of expression, particularly as tensions grow between the United States and Europe over how digital platforms should be regulated.
Speaking on French television ahead of the ruling, Brigitte Macron explained that the relentless online attacks went far beyond insults, alleging that hackers even accessed her tax records to alter her personal information. She said she chose to fight back legally to set an example, especially for young people facing cyberbullying.
“A birth certificate is not nothing,” she said, emphasizing the harm caused by persistent falsehoods. “I want to help adolescents to fight against harassment, and if I do not set an example, it will be difficult.”
