• Malicious, degrading and insulting

A Paris court has convicted 10 individuals for cyber harassment of France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron, over false claims about her gender and abusive comments linked to the age difference between her and President Emmanuel Macron.

The ruling followed legal action brought by Brigitte Macron after years of online attacks that included allegations that she is transgender and insinuations of paedophilia. The Macron couple, whose 24-year age gap has drawn public attention since Emmanuel Macron became president in 2017, has long been the target of online abuse.Eight of the defendants received suspended prison sentences ranging from four to eight months. A ninth defendant was sentenced in absentia to six months in prison. All ten were ordered to complete a hate-speech prevention course at their own expense. Three of those identified by the court as key instigators were also banned from using social media for six months.

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Presiding judge Thierry Donard described the accusations — including claims of “alleged paedophilia” — as “malicious, degrading and insulting,” saying the sentences reflected the defendants’ intent to harm the complainant.

Brigitte Macron, who did not attend the October hearings, told investigators that the repeated claims questioning her gender had “strongly affected” her and caused distress to her family.

Her lawyer, Jean Ennochi, said the preventive measures ordered by the court were central to the case. “The most important things are the prevention courses and the suspension of some of the accounts,” he said, adding that they were aimed at stopping further harassment.

The verdict comes amid growing concern in France over online harassment and the spread of false information, as public figures increasingly turn to the courts to challenge coordinated digital abuse.