French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to introduce legislation against the spread of “fake news” in the run up to the elections.
Macron made the announcement during a New Year’s address to the press corps at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
“I have decided that we will change our legal system to protect democratic life from this fake news,” Macron said on January 3. “During the election period, on the internet, content will no longer have exactly the same rules,” he added.
According to the Reuters news agency, the proposed legislation will also change the role of French media watchdog CSA.
Macron has been highly critical of Russian media in particular, openly accusing TV channel RT of sowing disinformation about him via its website and social media during the 2017 French presidential election.
