French minister dismisses concerns over Emmanuel Macron’s fake news law plan

Macron announced plans last week to give judges powers to delete some content ion the Internet, close a user's account or block access to a website during election campaigns

By: Reuters | London | Published: January 9, 2018 10:36 pm

French President Emmanuel Macron has been a target of fake news and of a major data hack during his run for the presidency last year. (File Photo)

Judges, not the government, will be in charge of enforcing French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposed new legislation to fight fake news on the Internet, a minister said on Tuesday, dismissing concerns over state control of information.

Macron, a target of fake news and of a major data hack during his run for the presidency last year, announced plans last week to give judges powers to delete some content ion the Internet, close a user’s account or block access to a website during election campaigns. The plans also include giving French media regulator CSA new powers to remove broadcasters’ rights to air content in France if it is deemed to be fake news.