The far right National Front has accused President Macron of trying to muzzle the French press after he promised to bring in laws to fight fake news.
Marine Le Pen, the populist party leader, said that Mr Macron’s plan was “very worrying”. She wrote in a tweet: “Is France still a democracy if it muzzles its citizens? Who will decide if news is fake? Judges, the government?”
The conservative opposition Republicans party also attacked Mr Macron’s plan as “dangerous for press freedom”. “Does Emmanuel Macron want to turn journalists into his press officers?” the party spokeswoman asked.
The president’s proposal was aimed mainly at the Russian-backed offensive on social media and Kremlin-run news sites, according to Ms Le Pen. She was backed by Moscow in last year’s presidential election and supports Russia.
Mr Macron’s promise on Wednesday “to develop our legal means of protecting democracy against fake news”, was also questioned by mainstream media.
Le Monde, France’s most authoritative paper, agreed that the spread of fake news “rots democratic life . . . and undermines the electoral process”. It said, however, that Mr Macron was entering dangerous territory by tinkering with press freedom when France already had a strong media law. “Modifying laws that exist already seems, to say the least, risky,” the centre-left newspaper said.
Mr Macron promised to introduce legislation by the end of this year. He said that thousands of propaganda accounts on social media were spreading all over the world. Lies were being invented “to tarnish officials, personalities, journalists”, he added.
The law would be particularly aimed at elections. “There will be increased transparency requirements for internet platforms regarding sponsored content,” the president said.
A new procedure would allow a judge to delete fake news content, close a user’s account or block access to a website. Propaganda outlets posing as ordinary media would come under scrutiny.
Mr Macron was referring to RT, the former Russia Today television channel, which has opened a French-language service, and Sputnik, a Kremlin news agency. He has accused them of waging a fake news war against him.