Emmanuel Macron: French President Announces ‘Fake News’ Law

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans for a new law to combat so-called fake news.

Speaking at a new year reception for the media, Mr Macron said it was possible now at a cost of just a few thousand euros to propagate untruths over social media.
“Thousands of propaganda accounts on social networks are spreading all over the world, in all languages, lies invented to tarnish political officials, personalities, public figures, journalists,” he said.
France’s audiovisual regulator would be given extra powers to “fight any destabilisation attempt by television channels controlled or influenced by foreign states”, he added.
Mr Macron denounced Russia media outlets RT and Sputnik at a joint news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin last May, accusing them of spreading “deceitful propaganda”.