French court sentenced 28 people to jail for online harassment
A criminal court in Paris has sentenced 28 participants in an online harassment campaign against France’s prominent social media influencer to imprisonment.
The defendants, whose ages ranged from 20 to 49, received terms ranging from four to 18 months in the largest cyberbullying case in the country. The court postponed half of the sentences.
These individuals had written nasty or disrespectful comments to social media influencer Magali Berdah.
The court found that each person knew about the victim’s cyberbullying and consciously chose to engage in it.
The judges emphasised that Berdah’s mental health was significantly impacted by their acts, resulting in tangible repercussions.After suffering the consequences of internet abuse for two years, the plaintiff expressed relief and described it as a “triumphant achievement”. Rapper Booba launched a campaign against Berdah, alleging that “thieving influencers” were defrauding regular internet users.
Although the court did not sentence Booba himself, it determined that his online remarks had an impact on the defendants’ actions.
These verdicts demonstrate that everyone is susceptible to the repercussions of cyberbullying, underscoring the significance of practicing responsible conduct on the internet.
By Nnaemeka Odenigbo
