A Paris court on Monday convicted 10 people for cyber-harassing France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron, after they spread false claims online alleging that she is a transgender woman who was born male.
The ruling marks a significant legal victory for Brigitte Macron and President Emmanuel Macron, who in recent years have taken a more assertive stance against persistent online falsehoods targeting their private lives.
The defendants — eight men and two women — were found guilty of publishing malicious and defamatory comments questioning Brigitte Macron’s gender and sexuality, according to court findings reported by Reuters.
Among the falsehoods circulated was the claim that Brigitte Macron was born under the name “Jean-Michel Trogneux,” which is in fact the name of her older brother. Other posts mocked the 24-year age difference between her and the president, with some comments equating it to “pedophilia,” the court said.
Judges rejected arguments that the posts were intended as satire, ruling instead that they amounted to targeted cyber-harassment.
The court handed down a range of penalties. One defendant received a six-month prison sentence without suspension, while others were given suspended jail terms of up to eight months.
Additional punishments included fines, compulsory cyber-harassment awareness courses, and temporary bans from using the social media platforms where the comments were posted. Five of those convicted were barred outright from the platform involved.
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Lawyers for Brigitte Macron and the convicted individuals were not immediately available for comment.
The verdict comes as the Macrons pursue a separate defamation lawsuit in the United States against right-wing influencer and podcaster Candace Owens, who has also publicly claimed that Brigitte Macron was born male.
The case also unfolds amid wider transatlantic tensions over online speech. The administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized European efforts to curb disinformation, framing them as threats to free expression.
Last month, Washington imposed visa restrictions on five Europeans involved in combating online hate and disinformation, including former EU commissioner Thierry Breton and several anti-disinformation activists.