January 20, 2023
Bulletin interne de l'Institut Pasteur
Fake news: author of a misleading video convicted for public defamation
The Amiens Court of Appeal has upheld the November 2020 judgment of Senlis Criminal Court convicting the author of a misleading video, posted on March 17, 2020, of public defamation against the Institut Pasteur.
On November 2, 2020, Senlis Criminal Court convicted the author of a misleading video, claiming that the Institut Pasteur had invented COVID-19, posted online on March 17, 2020, of public defamation against the Institut Pasteur. The author's words, which were untrue and unfounded and were based on a misinterpretation of a patent submitted in 2004, led to a wave of strong reactions against the Institut Pasteur.
For this reason, the Institut Pasteur had no other choice but to lodge a complaint for defamation, without prejudice to the right to freedom of expression, which the Institut Pasteur recognizes and defends.