France Macron reprimands Facebook for fake video about coup d'état
French President Emmanuel Macron has come down hard on Facebook for a fake video about an alleged coup d'état in France. At the request of the Élysée Palace, the online network had simply refused to remove the video, which had been clicked on twelve million times, Macron said in Marseille. The US company explained that the video did not violate the terms of use. The video shows an alleged journalist next to the Élysée Palace, who falsely reports that a colonel has taken power.
17.12.2025, 18:22
SDA
"They don't give a damn about balance"
"I am in favor of free, open debate, but these people are making fun of us," said Macron, referring to the platform. "They don't give a damn about the balance of public debate, they don't give a damn about the sovereignty of democracies and are putting us in danger." Legislation is needed at French and European level to remove "obviously false content that poses a danger to the public through destabilizing misinformation".
An African head of state even contacted him on Sunday about the fake video about a coup d'état, said Macron. "He says to me: Dear President, what's going on with you? I am very worried."
Macron: delete fake accounts more quickly
Macron said that platforms should be required to ensure that there is a natural person behind every account and not possibly a fake account or a troll, as this falsifies everything. The platforms should create transparency about algorithms and accounts that are obviously used to influence public life should be deleted much more quickly.
