Ten Found Guilty of Cyberbullying Brigitte Macron Over False Transgender Claims

Cyberbullying Verdict Against 10 Individuals

• ⚖️ A Paris court has found 10 individuals guilty of cyberbullying France's first lady, Brigitte Macron.
• 📣 The charges stemmed from the spreading of false claims that she is a transgender woman who was born a man.
• 🗓️ Sentences ranged from a cyberbullying awareness training to 8-month suspended prison sentences, meaning they will not be served unless a further offense is committed.
• 🚫 Some defendants received a six-month suspension on using social media accounts due to the perceived gravity of their online behavior.

Damages and Legal Battles

• 💰 Brigitte Macron was awarded €10,000 in damages after the court recognized the degradation to her mental health.
• 💸 Additionally, each of the accused must pay a fine of €600.
• ⏳ The accused have 10 days to appeal the verdict, with several expected to do so.

Previous and Future Legal Actions

• ⚖️ This verdict follows a previous guilty ruling against two individuals for defamation, which was later quashed on appeal.
• 🗣️ The Macron couple is appealing the quashed defamation judgment.
• 🇺🇸 A significant upcoming legal battle involves a lawsuit against American commentator Candace Owens for releasing videos and a book that built upon these false claims.
• ⚖️ The court acknowledged the complex balance between freedom of expression and an individual's right to protection against defamation and harassment.