French Court Convicts Ten for Cyberbullying Brigitte Macron Amid Widespread Disinformation Campaign
Paris, France – A Paris court on Monday found ten individuals guilty of cyberbullying French First Lady Brigitte Macron, a landmark decision that underscores the growing legal crackdown on online harassment and the propagation of false information against public figures. The verdict follows a protracted campaign of malicious online commentary, including false claims about her gender and sexuality, that inflicted significant personal distress on Mrs. Macron and her family.
The ruling by the Paris criminal court is a pivotal moment in France's ongoing efforts to combat digital defamation and hate speech, sending a clear message that such online attacks will face legal consequences. The ten defendants, eight men and two women aged between 41 and 65, received sentences ranging from mandatory cyberbullying awareness training to suspended prison terms of up to eight months.
The Campaign of Degrading Falsehoods
The court's decision highlighted "particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious" comments directed at Brigitte Macron. At the heart of the cyberbullying campaign was a pervasive and entirely unsubstantiated conspiracy theory alleging that France's First Lady was born a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux, the actual name of her elder brother. These false claims often intertwined with derogatory remarks about her 24-year age gap with President Emmanuel Macron, baselessly linking it to pedophilia.
The online vitriol, frequently amplified across social media platforms, garnered tens of thousands of views for some posts, contributing to what Mrs. Macron’s daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, described as a "deterioration" of her mother's life. Auzière testified during the October trial that her mother "cannot ignore the horrible things said about her," and that the harassment had extended its negative impact to the entire family, including Macron's grandchildren, who were confronted with the baseless rumors.
Key Figures and Their Roles
Among those convicted, Delphine Jegousse, 51, known as Amandine Roy, a self-described medium and author, was identified as a major propagator of the false narrative. Jegousse had released a four-hour video on her YouTube channel in 2021, featuring an interview with Natacha Rey, an individual who describes herself as an independent journalist, that explicitly pushed the "Jean-Michel Trogneux" conspiracy theory. Jegousse received a six-month suspended prison sentence for her role.
Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, 41, known online as Zoé Sagan, also received an eight-month suspended prison sentence. His X (formerly Twitter) account was suspended in 2024 following multiple judicial investigations. Other defendants included an elected official, a teacher, and a computer scientist, highlighting the diverse backgrounds of those involved in spreading the malicious content. Some of these individuals reportedly claimed their comments were intended as humor or satire and expressed confusion about being prosecuted.
This case is distinct from a previous defamation suit in September 2024 where Brigitte Macron and her brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux, won against Jegousse and another woman for similar claims, though an appeals court later overturned that ruling, which is currently being appealed to France's highest court. Additionally, the Macrons have filed a separate defamation lawsuit in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens, who has significantly amplified the same conspiracy theories to her millions of followers.
Strengthening Legal Protections Against Cyberbullying
The verdict reinforces France's stringent legal framework against online harassment. French law has progressively evolved to address the complexities of cyberbullying. In 2014, France criminalized cyber harassment, establishing penalties of up to three years' imprisonment and fines of €45,000. More recently, a 2022 law further criminalized school and university bullying, including its online forms, allowing for fines up to €150,000 and imprisonment for up to 10 years. Cyberbullying, in general, can lead to a two-year prison sentence and a €30,000 fine for adult offenders.
This judicial outcome follows other high-profile cyberbullying cases in France, such as the 2024 convictions of 28 individuals for harassing influencer Magali Berdah, with sentences including prison terms and fines. These cases collectively illustrate a concerted effort by French authorities to hold individuals accountable for their online actions, moving beyond traditional definitions of defamation to encompass the broader scope of digital harassment.
A Stand Against Online Harassment
Brigitte Macron did not attend the two-day trial in October but had publicly stated her intention to pursue legal action "to set an example" in the fight against harassment. This conviction signals a significant judicial pushback against the unchecked spread of false narratives and personal attacks that have increasingly plagued public discourse online. The court's rejection of claims that the comments were merely "humor or satire" emphasizes the serious legal interpretation of such actions.
The ruling serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities that accompany online speech and the potential for severe consequences when that speech devolves into malicious harassment and the propagation of damaging falsehoods. As digital platforms continue to shape public interaction, this verdict in Paris sends a strong message globally about the imperative to foster a more respectful and truthful online environment, particularly for those in the public eye.
