French President Macron's Free Speech Stance Criticized

French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly stated that American free speech is "the opposite of free speech," drawing criticism from legal scholar Jonathan Turley, who argues that France is implementing increasingly restrictive censorship laws. Turley contends that France has been "in a headlong plunge into censorship and speech criminalization," with laws that criminalize speech based on vague standards like "inciting" or "intimidating" others.

Turley points to several instances he believes exemplify this trend. He cites the case of fashion designer John Galliano, who was found guilty in a French court for making antisemitic remarks, and the case of a politician's father fined for calling members of the Roma minority "smelly." Additionally, a French teenager was reportedly charged for criticizing Islam in 2020.

Macron's comments on free speech and his praise for figures like Brigitte Bardot, who Turley notes was repeatedly prosecuted for her views, are seen by the legal scholar as contradictory. Turley suggests that after events like the Charlie Hebdo attack, the French government used the incident to further curtail free speech, despite organizing a march for the principle.

He also references Macron's support for initiatives like the Digital Services Act (DSA) in the European Union, which aims to regulate online content deemed "disinformation" or "incitement." Turley argues that figures like European Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager have celebrated such measures, stating that "what is illegal offline should also be seen and dealt with as illegal online."

Turley criticizes Macron's arguments, such as the notion that "there is no freedom if there is no limit to my freedom," as indicative of a belief that even "insulting" language should be criminalized. He contrasts this with what he views as the American ideal of robust free expression, asserting that "the only true solution to bad speech is better speech."

Despite Macron's perceived anti-free speech stance, Turley notes his popularity among the U.S. establishment and media. He recalls Macron addressing Congress and advocating for a joint war against "fake news," which Turley interprets as a call for censorship. Turley believes that Macron's approach grants politicians excessive power to silence critics and intimidate opponents, ultimately undermining the principle of liberty.

"Liberty, Equality and Fraternity ('liberté, égalité, fraternité')" are France's national motto, but Turley argues that in contemporary France, "'liberté' remains a declining value," with individual rights often sacrificed in the name of "equity" and "fraternity."