By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
A Paris court on Monday convicted 10 individuals for cyberbullying France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron, after they spread false claims about her gender and made abusive insinuations about the age difference between her and President Emmanuel Macron.
The court handed suspended prison sentences ranging from four to eight months to eight of the defendants. A ninth defendant received a six-month prison sentence after failing to appear in court, while a tenth individual was ordered to undergo compulsory training aimed at combating hate speech online.
The case stemmed from a sustained online campaign targeting Macron, in which defamatory content and misleading information were widely circulated on social media platforms.
French authorities have repeatedly warned against the rise of online harassment and misinformation, stressing that cyberbullying constitutes a serious offence under the country’s laws.
The First Lady has previously spoken out against online abuse, describing it as deeply harmful and calling for stronger measures to protect individuals from digital harassment.
More details are expected to emerge as the ruling continues to draw public attention across France and beyond.
Heritage Times HT reports that under French law, cyberbullying and online harassment are treated as serious criminal offences, particularly when they involve repeated attacks, the spread of false information, or content that undermines a person’s dignity.
The French Penal Code provides for penalties including prison sentences of up to two years and fines that can reach €30,000, with harsher sanctions where the victim is targeted because of gender, age, or public status. Courts may also impose additional measures such as suspended sentences, mandatory awareness or rehabilitation courses, restrictions on online activity, and compensation to victims.
Authorities say the legal framework is designed both to punish offenders and to deter the growing misuse of digital platforms for harassment and disinformation.
