Ten people convicted of cyberbullying France’s First Lady

A Paris criminal court on Monday convicted ten people for cyberharassment targeting France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron, following a viral online disinformation campaign.

The defendants were found guilty of spreading and amplifying false claims about Macron’s gender identity and private life, including baseless allegations that she was born male. Prosecutors said the campaign relied on conspiracy theories widely circulated on social media.

Sentences ranged from suspended prison terms to mandatory training on combating online harassment, along with temporary bans from certain social media platforms. Two defendants received harsher penalties due to their leading roles in disseminating the false content.

In its ruling, the court described the messages as “degrading, insulting and malicious,” noting that some posts were viewed tens of thousands of times. The judges also highlighted how the defendants falsely linked the 24-year age difference between Brigitte Macron and President Emmanuel Macron to accusations of pedophilia.

Brigitte Macron did not attend the October trial. In an interview published the day before the verdict, she said she had pursued legal action to “set an example” in the fight against online abuse. Her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified about the psychological toll the harassment had taken on the family.

The case forms part of a broader series of legal actions by the Macron family against the spread of disinformation, including proceedings abroad against individuals accused of circulating similar false claims.