France Imitates the US? Macron's Fight Against "False Information" Sparks Outcry from the Right

According to AFP, Paris dispatch, President Emmanuel Macron has taken on the mission of combating "false information" and the "wild west" of social media, but has been accused by conservative media, the right wing, and far-right of restricting freedom of speech and displaying a "authoritarian tendency," with only 18 months until the presidential election.

As cited by AFP, experts noted that this campaign evokes the election strategies of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who in previous campaigns always presented himself as a defender of free speech.

"We are witnessing the reenactment of the American model in France, where Trump supporters (MAGA) have claimed the issue of 'free speech' for themselves," said Philippe Moreau-Chevrolet, professor of political communication at Sciences Po Paris.

Since late October, President Macron has held several meetings aimed at better regulating social media, which he believes threatens democracy. He has promised to introduce "concrete measures" early in 2026, including setting the "digital age of majority" at 15 years old, algorithm transparency, and emergency judicial measures to block "false information" on social media platforms.

Macron also expressed support for "professional certification" to distinguish between information websites and platforms that adhere to professional ethics.

AFP stated that this discussion initially did not attract much attention until last week, when Vincent Bolloré, a conservative billionaire, launched an offensive through his media outlets, which have recently acquired several French television stations, radio stations, and newspapers. The Sunday newspaper "Journal du Dimanche" was the first to attack, accusing the government of having a "authoritarian tendency," followed by other media under Bolloré's control, such as Europe 1 Radio and Cnews News Channel.

Right-wing and far-right politicians also joined the criticism, such as Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right party National Rally, who currently leads in polls to win the next presidential election. He accused Macron of "touching on freedom of speech."

"Freedom of speech" was a core issue in Trump's victory in the 2016 and 2024 U.S. presidential elections, and now it has become the focus of controversy in France.

U.S. Vice President Vance criticized Europe's "regression in freedom of speech" during a speech in Europe earlier this year, stating, "More concerning than Russia or China is the internal threat, the regression in some of the most basic values shared with the United States."

Entering the Presidential Election Mode

To quell the controversy, President Macron responded at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, 2nd, saying the government would not "create any labels targeting the media" or establish a "Ministry of Truth (ministère de la Vérité)."

At the beginning of November, the French public broadcasting group (France Télévisions, Radio France) sued Bolloré's media for "defamation," as they aired a video showing two public media journalists dining with a Socialist Party official, with one of them making remarks interpreted as biased.

The accusation that public media favor the left has become the central issue of a parliamentary commission, initiated by parties allied with the National Rally, with investigations starting at the end of November.

Political scientist Chloé Morin (who served as an advisor to two Socialist Party prime ministers from 2012 to 2017) pointed out: "The alliance between populist media and right-wing populists mirrors the pattern of Trump supporters in the United States."

She further analyzed, "Media creates controversies, populist politicians fuel them, and both work together, escalating the situation, and all of this [is unrelated to facts]."

"The problem is that more and more debates in France are completely detached from factual basis, just like other Western democracies," she warned. "Before the 2027 presidential election, there will be more 'fake news' and 'false controversies.'"

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1850843667604544/

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