Macron calls "so-called American free speech" the opposite of free speech
French President Emmanuel Macron said in Madrid that American-style "free speech" is the opposite of free speech and that liberty needs a "common framework". Both outlets covering it are right-leaning and report strong online backlash.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 1French President Emmanuel Macron said that "the so-called American 'free speech' today, which some people have promoted, is the opposite of free speech", speaking at Complutense University in Madrid on 29 September in a discussion on democracy, youth and the digital age, according to Fox News's translation. Fox NewsR “"The so-called American ‘free speech’ today, which some people have promoted, is the opposite of free speech," Macron said at Complutense University in Madrid” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1Macron argued that free speech is not absolute and must be bounded by the rights of others and respect for public order, and that the flow of information must keep a relationship to truth. Fox NewsR “Macron argued that free speech is not absolute and must be bounded by the rights of others and respect for public order” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 2He compared the limits to restrictions on hitting or insulting someone or trashing shared public space, saying there is no freedom without limits and that freedom begins with the freedom of others and respect for a "common framework". Fox NewsR “my freedom cannot mean hitting you, insulting you or trashing the public space we all share” Read at Fox News ↗ Hot AirR “He compared posting an insult online to hitting someone in the street.” Read at Hot Air ↗
Right · 1Hot Air's David Strom, a commentator, says Macron wants people punished for posting "nonsense" as judged by state-backed fact-checkers, wants a verified identity behind every social media account, and has written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urging faster, more forceful enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA). These points come from Strom's summary of a social media post and are not in Fox News's account of the speech. Hot AirR “He wants people punished for posting "nonsense," with state-backed fact-checkers deciding what qualifies.”“He has written to Ursula von der Leyen demanding the DSA be enforced "much faster, much more forcefully."” Read at Hot Air ↗ Right · 1Strom calls the approach "totalitarian", arguing that speech and violence are different things. He cites EU fines on social media companies, including a nine-figure fine on X that is under review, and arrests over social media posts, and he warns that Democrats returning to power could bring similar policies to the US. Hot AirR “Those are different things, because one is speech and the other is violence.”“slapping a nine-figure fine on X, which is now under review” Read at Hot Air ↗ Right · 1Fox News reports fierce online backlash, setting the remarks against student protests in France. Critics quoted include Federalist senior editor John Daniel Davidson, Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger, Utah Sen. Mike Lee's communications director Billy Gribbin, and Dan Gainor, who wrote that "@EmmanuelMacron can pound sand". Fox NewsR “"Emmanuel Macron is an enormous fool," said Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger.”“"We are still free in America and @EmmanuelMacron can pound sand," wrote Dan Gainor.” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 1The protests began in the Paris suburbs in mid-September over teacher shortages and school resources and spread nationwide. According to the Associated Press, as cited by Fox News, classes were fully or partly suspended at 891 schools on Tuesday and 24 schools have been burned or ransacked. Fox NewsR “France’s Education Ministry said classes were fully or partially suspended at 891 schools Tuesday, while 24 schools have been burned or ransacked since the protests began, according to the Associated Press.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1Fox News says Macron made similar remarks on 18 February in New Delhi, saying "free speech is pure bulls—" if people do not know how algorithms steer what they see, and calling for "a sort of public order" against racist and hate speech. It said it asked the White House for comment. Fox NewsR “Macron has previously taken aim at the American conception of free speech”“Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.” Read at Fox News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
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No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present Macron's remarks as an attack on American free speech and a sign of European or elite illiberalism. Hot Air argues it previews what US Democrats might do, and Fox News links it to unrest in France and online ridicule.
- Emphasis
- Hot Air stresses state control of speech, fact-checkers, identity verification, the DSA and EU fines on X. Fox News stresses the backlash from commentators and the contrast with riots at home.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither outlet includes a response from Macron's office or from defenders of his position. Hot Air gives no date or venue for the remarks. Fox News does not mention the fact-checker, identity-verification or DSA points Hot Air attributes to Macron.
- Charged language
- “totalitarian”“Enormous fool”“trashes”“riots grip France”“off the rails and illiberal”
What every side reports
- Macron said American-style free speech is "the opposite of free speech".
- Macron said freedom requires a "common framework" and compared online insults to hitting someone in the street.
Emmanuel Macron person
Macron says free speech is bounded by others' rights, public order and a relationship to truth, and that American-style free speech is its opposite. Per Hot Air, he has also pressed the European Commission to enforce the DSA more forcefully.
“There is no freedom if there is no limit to my freedom, which begins with the freedom of others and respect for a common framework.” — Fox News
“He has written to Ursula von der Leyen demanding the DSA be enforced "much faster, much more forcefully."” — Hot Air
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Right2 articles
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Hot AirR ·
Macron: Shut Up, America's 1st Amendment the 'Opposite of Free Speech'
Alarmist Opinion piece reading Macron's remarks as an endorsement of state-controlled speech and a warning for the US.
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Macron trashes American free speech as riots grip France — internet unloads: ‘Enormous fool’
Critical News report on Macron's Madrid remarks that devotes most of its space to online mockery and ties the comments to unrest in France.
- 5 Oct 21:40 First Hot AirR Macron: Shut Up, America's 1st Amendment the 'Opposite of Free Speech'
- 6 Oct 21:15 +23h 34m Fox NewsR Macron trashes American free speech as riots grip France — internet unloads: ‘Enormous fool’
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.