France to raise penalties for election fake news

The French government is preparing a bill that would increase criminal sanctions for the spread of false information during election campaigns. The draft raises imprisonment from one to three years and fines from €15,000 to €45,000, with a provision for up to six years in prison when the disinformation is linked to a foreign power, organization or business.

The legislation also extends the fast‑track anti‑fake‑news procedure introduced in 2018 to all types of elections and calls for judges to order rapid removal of false online content during campaigns. Presented a few months before the 2027 presidential election, the proposal aims to protect the integrity of the vote and deter foreign interference.