Ten French citizens face criminal charges for spreading online conspiracy theories claiming President Emmanuel Macron’s wife Brigitte was born male, marking an unprecedented legal crackdown on gender-based disinformation campaigns.
The Conspiracy Theory That Crossed Legal Lines
French prosecutors built their case around evidence that these ten individuals orchestrated a sustained online campaign promoting false claims about Brigitte Macron’s gender identity. The conspiracy theory, which gained traction on various social media platforms, alleged without evidence that the First Lady was born male. These claims spread rapidly through French-speaking online communities, demonstrating how quickly unsubstantiated theories can gain momentum in digital spaces.
BREAKING: French President Emmanuel Macron’s wife, Brigitte Macron discovered that her tax account on France’s official government website listed her as a male under the name “Jean-Michel.” pic.twitter.com/AqxI5NZ0lh
— The General (@GeneralMCNews) October 25, 2025
The defendants range in age from 41 to 60, suggesting this wasn’t merely youthful online misbehavior but calculated actions by middle-aged adults who should have understood the potential consequences. French authorities determined their activities went beyond casual gossip or political criticism, crossing into territory that violated the country’s cyber-harassment statutes specifically designed to protect individuals from coordinated online attacks.
France’s Expanding Definition of Digital Harassment
This prosecution reflects France’s increasingly stringent approach to online behavior that targets public figures with false, defamatory content. French law recognizes sexist cyber-harassment as a distinct criminal offense, acknowledging that gender-based online attacks can cause significant psychological harm and undermine victims’ public standing. The charges suggest prosecutors view these conspiracy theories as more than harmless speculation.
The case establishes important precedent about where free speech ends and criminal harassment begins in the digital age. While political criticism and even harsh commentary typically receive broad protection, French authorities drew the line at coordinated campaigns spreading demonstrably false information designed to humiliate and degrade based on gender identity. This distinction matters for future cases involving public figures and online conspiracy theories.
🚨🇫🇷 French Media are reporting that French President Emmanuel Macron’s Wife Brigitte Macron – has her Tax Account on Official Government Records listed under the name ‘Jean-Michael’ ‼️ pic.twitter.com/9IWBGdxHPU
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) October 25, 2025
Broader Implications for Online Accountability
The prosecution sends a clear message about personal responsibility in digital spaces, particularly regarding conspiracy theories targeting women in prominent positions. These ten defendants now face potential criminal penalties for activities they may have considered anonymous online entertainment. The case demonstrates that digital harassment campaigns can have real-world legal consequences, even when participants believe they’re protected by internet anonymity.
The trial also highlights how conspiracy theories often target powerful women with particularly vicious personal attacks designed to undermine their credibility and standing. By pursuing criminal charges specifically under sexist harassment statutes, French prosecutors acknowledged the gendered nature of these attacks and their potential to silence or diminish women’s participation in public life through coordinated intimidation campaigns.
🇫🇷 MACRON’S WIFE IS A MAN IN THE TAX REGISTRY
Brigitte Macron, the wife of the President of France Emmanuel Macron, is registered as a man in the tax registry.
This was reported by the BFM TV channel, citing a representative of the First Lady of France, Tristan Bromet.… pic.twitter.com/G4LNDK3VvB
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) October 25, 2025