A Paris court on Monday sentenced 10 individuals over the cyberbullying of France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron, following the circulation of false claims about her gender and repeated derogatory comments concerning the age difference between her and President Emmanuel Macron.
According to the ruling, eight of the defendants received suspended prison sentences ranging from four to eight months. Another defendant was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment in absentia, while a tenth individual was ordered to complete a mandatory online course focused on combating hate speech and online abuse.
The case marks a significant step in France’s ongoing efforts to curb cyberbullying, online harassment, and hate-driven misinformation, particularly against public figures and their families. Prosecutors argued that the coordinated spread of false and malicious content caused reputational harm and crossed the threshold from free expression into criminal abuse.
French authorities stressed that the sentences are intended to serve as a deterrent, sending a clear message that online harassment is not without consequences. They reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enforcing existing laws against digital abuse and holding offenders accountable, regardless of the platform used.
The trial attracted widespread public attention across France, reigniting debate over the responsibility of social media users and platforms in curbing the spread of harmful and misleading content.