A Paris court fined the France 24 news channel on Friday for reporting rumours that first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy was having an affair with a French pop singer. Judges ordered the publicly-funded television channel to pay 3,000 euros to the singer in question, Benjamin Biolay, after ruling that the coverage violated his privacy.
Biolay had sought 20,000 euros in damages over a 10 March broadcast that referred to speculation about his possible involvement with Bruni-Sarkozy.
The judge downsized his compensation, but rejected France 24’s defence that its report was in the public interest.
Read more in the Herald de Paris.
Talk about speedy justice! The case was heard about a week after it was filed and the court ruled quickly.
Thanks to a reader who sent this link.