Key Takeaways
• 10 convicted in cyberbullying case against Brigitte Macron ||| • Judge deems online comments a coordinated harassment campaign ||| • Defendants face suspended prison terms and social media suspension ||| • Brigitte Macron's family endures repercussions from cyberbullying ||| • Macron family pursues defamation suit against Candace Owens
An administrative court in Paris has recently found ten individuals guilty of cyberbullying Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron. This case involved spreading false claims regarding her gender and sexuality while making disparaging remarks regarding their 24-year age difference.
Judge Jaques Bensade decided that eight men and two women involved acted intentionally with malicious intent by posting degrading and insulting online statements that specifically target public figures. It represents one of France’s highest profile rulings regarding online harassment directed towards public figures.
Sentences and Court Measures (Formal Description)
Most defendants received suspended prison terms of eight months or longer; one individual was taken into custody immediately upon failing to appear for court, in addition to prison sentences being handed out and social media accounts being suspended as measures taken by the court in an effort to curb further online abuse.
The judge recognized that this case went far beyond free expression, concluding that coordinated comments demonstrated an organized campaign of harassment targeting Brigitte Macron.
False Claims 101 Overview
Natacha Rey and Amandine Roy were found guilty in 2024 for engaging in slanderous attacks that claimed France’s first lady had never existed and claimed Jean-Michel Trogneux had adopted her identity by changing gender.
After their conviction was later reversed on appeal by judges based on evidence showing someone has changed gender, the Macrons decided to appeal the ruling at France’s highest court of appeal; continuing their legal challenge.
Brigitte Macron and Her Family Experience Effects from Procuration Agreement
Brigitte Macron’s lawyer, Jean Ennochi, highlighted as major outcomes of Brigitte Macron’s ruling the imposition of prevention courses on perpetrators as well as suspension of specific online accounts, both essential to reduce further harassment risk. He believes these measures would significantly lower this risk.
Tiphaine Auziere, Brigitte Macron’s daughter from her previous marriage and testifying on behalf of Brigitte Macron at her trial for cyber bullying, testified about its effects. According to Tiphaine Auziere, Brigitte Macron became more self conscious over how her appearance or posture might be scrutinised online and affected both her health and daily life – something Tiphaine noted was evident as Brigitte Macron began becoming aware that online comments might scrutinise and manipulate it further.
Auziere said her mother had learned to cope with her son’s bullying online; however, the effects on their grandchildren had been more devastating as they had been taunted at school because of unsubstantiated online claims circulating around.
Substance Abuse in Canada Linked to Wider Global Legal Battle
France has just issued its ruling ahead of a much bigger legal case unfolding in America. The Macron family have filed a defamation suit against right-wing influencer Candace Owens for spreading allegations regarding Brigitte Macron’s gender and spreading conspiracy theories about her.
In their complaint against Owens, the presidential couple allege she ignored any credible evidence disproving these claims while amplifying known conspiracy theorists instead. She promoted these rumor on her podcasts and social media platforms repeatedly over time and in March 2024 stated she would stake everything on believing first lady “is actually male”.
Transition from Silence to Legal Action
After initial rumors began surfacing following Emmanuel Macron’s election in 2017, they were advised by their attorneys to disregard them, fearing legal action would only draw more attention to conspiracy theories. For years this strategy remained intact.
However, due to the scale and persistence of online attacks against them, their approach changed in response. After considering all their options available to them in taking legal action against these perpetrators of abuse – even though taking such steps meant potentially disclosing aspects of their private lives before court.
Under Close Review is your Personal History
Brigitte Macron has long been at the center of conspiracy theories surrounding her personal history and relationship to President Emmanuel Macron, whom she first met when she taught at his secondary school as a teacher. They married shortly thereafter in 2007 when he was 29 while she was 50, an age gap which critics and online harassers exploit regularly to attack.
These convictions demonstrate how France has increasingly recognized the damage done to individuals and their families from coordinated online abuse that targets individuals or their family with unfounded claims that are maliciously made online.
