French Court Opens Trial of Ten Accused of Targeted Online Harassment Against Brigitte Macron

Proceedings began Monday in a Paris criminal court against ten defendants charged with orchestrating a sustained campaign of online harassment aimed at France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron. Prosecutors allege that the group promoted false claims regarding her gender identity and suggested her marriage to President Emmanuel Macron amounted to pedophilia because of their 24-year age difference.

The case centers on eight men and two women, all between 41 and 60 years old, who are accused of spreading “numerous malicious comments” across several social-media platforms. According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, individual posts amassed tens of thousands of views, amplifying a rumor that Brigitte Macron had been born male under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux—also the name of her brother—and later transitioned. Investigators say some defendants repeatedly used hashtags and images to reinforce the allegation and to question the legitimacy of the presidential couple’s relationship.

Among the accused are a self-described medium, an advertising executive whose account on X (formerly Twitter) has been suspended, an elected local official, a teacher, and a computer scientist. The alleged conduct is being prosecuted under French statutes covering public insult, harassment, and defamation. A conviction can lead to fines and, in certain circumstances, prison sentences.

The two-day trial is scheduled to hear testimony from cybercrime investigators, review archived social-media content, and consider the extent to which coordinated activity contributed to the rumor’s reach. A verdict is expected at a later date, though the court has not indicated when it will be delivered.

The Macron family has confronted similar claims for several years. In July, the president and first lady filed a defamation suit in Delaware against U.S. political commentator Candace Owens after she repeated the allegation in videos and social-media posts. Their attorney announced plans to seek substantial damages should Owens continue to circulate the story. Owens, whose YouTube channel has about 4.5 million subscribers, was denied visas to New Zealand and Australia in 2024 following separate controversial remarks she made about World War II.

Earlier French litigation produced mixed results. In September 2024, a lower Paris court ordered two women to pay fines and damages for spreading identical claims against Brigitte Macron and Jean-Michel Trogneux. That judgment was overturned on appeal in July 2025. The first lady and her brother have since taken the matter to France’s Cour de Cassation, the nation’s highest court, seeking reinstatement of the original ruling.

Legal experts note that French defamation law affords protections similar to those in other European jurisdictions but places additional emphasis on the individual’s right to private life. The current proceedings therefore test how far such protections extend when allegations originate online and rapidly cross international borders. Context on France’s legal framework can be found through resources such as Reuters’ overview of European legal affairs.

The rumor at the heart of the present case first gained momentum shortly after Emmanuel Macron’s 2017 election victory and has resurfaced periodically since. Prosecutors contend that renewed viral activity in late 2024 and early 2025 prompted authorities to act, citing the “persistently offensive nature” of the content.

Brigitte Macron, née Brigitte Auzière, is a former literature teacher who met Emmanuel Macron at the secondary school where she taught drama and French. She was then in her late thirties and married with three children; he was a 15-year-old student. The two maintained contact after he left the school, eventually marrying in 2007. The president, now 47, was first elected in 2017 and secured a second term in 2022.

Imagem: imagem internet 5

Under French criminal procedure, victims of alleged online harassment may join proceedings as parties civiles, allowing them to seek damages directly. Court documents indicate that Brigitte Macron has chosen this option, though the amount requested has not been disclosed. Any financial penalties would be in addition to criminal sanctions imposed by the court.

Cyberbullying cases in France typically rely on digital forensics to establish authorship and intent. Investigators in this instance traced IP addresses, subpoenaed platform data, and collected statements from followers who engaged with the disputed posts. Prosecutors assert that while freedom of expression is protected, the defendants’ actions exceeded legal boundaries by attacking personal dignity and disseminating falsehoods presented as fact.

The trial unfolds against a broader debate in Europe over regulating social-media content. France has already enacted measures requiring platforms to remove hateful or defamatory material within specific time frames. Lawmakers are currently evaluating additional enforcement tools aimed at curbing coordinated disinformation campaigns.

Should the Paris court find the defendants guilty, penalties could range from suspended sentences and fines to potential imprisonment, depending on individual involvement and prior records. Defense attorneys are expected to argue that their clients merely repeated information circulating online and lacked intent to defame.

A court representative said Monday that all evidence will be reviewed over two consecutive sessions. The panel of professional judges will then deliberate before issuing a written decision. Until that ruling is released, Brigitte Macron’s legal team has declined further comment.

Crédito da imagem: Associated Press