Brigitte MACRON, France’s First Lady, won her legal fight against two women that falsely accused Brigitte of being transgender.
According to the Paris Court ruling, they must pay EUR8,000 in damages (PS6,750 to Macron) and EUR5,000 Jean-Michel Trogneux her brother.
This case highlights the impact of disinformation online, spreading beyond France and the US. It also involves conspiracy theories promoted by extreme right groups.
The ruling is a major step in the fight against fake news, defamatory content and other online problems.
Combatting online disinformation
Paris’s court decision of Thursday is a major step forward in the fight against disinformation. This is especially true when targeting high-profile people.
Amandine Rey and Natacha rey (who calls themselves an independent journalist) posted a video on YouTube in December 2021 claiming that Brigitte mcnas was actually a Jean-Michel.
The false information spread quickly on social media, just prior to the French 2022 presidential elections.
Macron (formerly Brigitte Trigneux) filed a complaint for libel following the viral video.
Some posts suggested she never existed and that her brother Jean-Michel had assumed her identity.
A court ordered that Roy and Rey pay Macron EUR8,000 as damages and Jean-Michel Trogneux an additional EUR5,000. The court also imposed a EUR500 fine on both women.
Fraudulent claims extend beyond France
Disinformation did not stop in France.
The campaign reached the US, where similar claims of defamation against Macron were made in an now deleted video on YouTube ahead of November’s midterm elections.
It is amazing how fast false information can travel across national borders. This not only affects defamation, but it also impacts international politics.
This tactic of falsely spreading claims is not unique to Macron.
Many high-profile females, such as former US First lady Michelle Obama, US Vice-President and Presidential Candidate Kamala Harri, and ex-New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Adern have been the subject of similar lies aimed at gender and sexuality.
These targeted campaigns of disinformation are used often to ridicule or undermine their public persona.
Brigitte’s Macron response
Brigitte, who is 71 years old, was not present at the trial in June or the ruling of the court on Thursday. She remains active in the public sphere.
On the day of the ruling, Emily made her Netflix debut, in which she played herself in the hit series Emily In Paris.
Lily Collins revealed the cameo was a result of Darren Star and her meeting Macron in the Elysee Palace, December 2022.
The case highlights not only the legal and social repercussions of falsely spreading information but also the cultural impact that Macron has had in his public life.
This ruling could deter future attempts at disinformation, and set a precedent that individuals can be held accountable for online defamatory remarks.
This case is a good reminder that spreading unreliable and damaging information online can have serious legal consequences.
The decision of the court to punish Roy and Rey is an attempt to stop defamatory material, particularly against public figures.
Digital platforms are growing, and so is the need to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the information that’s shared.
The post Brigitte Macnab wins defamation suit against conspiracy theorists falsely transgender claims could be updated as new information unfolds
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