Editorial. The Brigitte Macron case, emblematic of the danger of fake news

For those who think that fake news is not harmful, here is a textbook case that makes us think about the dangers to democracy. For several years now, false information has been circulating that Brigitte Macron was "born a man." What was originally just a malicious accusation, confined to far-right accounts in France, has taken on an international dimension with powerful relays on American social networks. So much so that Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron have filed defamation lawsuits against an American influencer, with a trial scheduled for the end of 2025. Of course, the phenomenon is not new. Georges Pompidou and Pierre Bérégovoy, each in their time, had to face odious untruths with the aim of destabilizing them politically . Another emblematic case is the wild rumor about the illness, then the death, of Isabelle Adjani . The difference with today is obviously the media echo chamber provided by social networks. The Brigitte Macron affair is among "the top 3 conspiracy theories with 1 billion views in French-speaking countries alone. We have no element of comparison for a subject that would have spread so quickly," explained Thomas Huchon, a fake news specialist, on "Secrets d'info" on France Inter. This is undoubtedly what prompted the President of the Republic to once again deny the fake news about his wife, in an interview with Paris Match published on August 19. "It has become so widespread in the United States that we had to react. It's a question of upholding the truth," explains the head of state. In doing so, Emmanuel Macron is adopting a communication strategy radically different from that previously practiced by the political class: playing indifference to avoid giving disinformation a foothold. Now, the Élysée is leading the way and counterattacking.