CORONAVIRUS

Institut Pasteur initiates legal proceedings in response to misleading, defamatory information currently circulating in videos online

After becoming aware of the existence of new videos and their widespread circulation online and via social media, in September 2020 the Institut Pasteur once again lodged an official complaint and initiated legal proceedings for defamation with the Senior Investigating Judge at the Paris Court.

Based on a misinterpretation of an Institut Pasteur patent, these latest videos continue to accuse the Institut Pasteur of creating the coronavirus. The videos were first published on August 20, on the initiative of a group of prominent figures known for their anti-vax and anti-mask campaigns. The new docufiction film "Hold-Up," which repeats the same arguments related to the patent, has considerably increased the spread of these misleading, defamatory claims since it was released online on November 11.

The accusations have already been refuted several times by the Institut Pasteur since March. Following the publication of the first defamatory video in March 2020, the court ruled in favor of the Institut Pasteur on November 2, 2020, convicting the video's author of defamation (lien vers le Bip qui en fait mention).

As well as lodging an official complaint, the management team has implemented several measures to counter the spread of these videos and protect the Institut Pasteur and its staff:

  • The Legal Affairs Department contacted the most popular hosting providers and content sharing platforms where the videos were available to ask for them to be removed (especially YouTube);

  • Influential fact-checkers (AFP, Le Monde, etc.) were contacted and provided with information that would enable them to set the facts straight;

  • The dedicated page on the pasteur.fr website was updated and a news item was published on the court ruling of November 2;

  • Information was shared on the Institut Pasteur's Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn pages;

  • The video by Olivier Schwartz refuting the arguments and stating the facts about the patent in question, already broadcast in March, was republished online;

  • A press dispatch for journalists was published online

  • A "Threats" unit (composed of representatives from the Department of Communications and Fundraising, the Legal Affairs Department, the HR Department and the Delegate for Safety and Security) was set up to deal with the repercussions of this defamation for the Institut Pasteur and its staff members;

  • Staff are kept regularly informed of the support mechanisms in place if managers or employees are the victims of harassment following the dissemination of false information about COVID-19.

Additional measures are currently being prepared to tackle these malicious acts.

Please feel free to share these resources if you are asked questions by your friends or family members.

In addition to strongly refuting false allegations and clarifying the facts of the situation and the scientific basis, the Institut Pasteur is determined to denounce insults and threats to its employees and scientists and prevent such incidents from happening again.

Rest assured that if the Institut Pasteur is targeted by publicly disseminated defamatory information, it will lodge an official complaint whenever it deems it to be necessary.

In light of the Institut Pasteur's increased media exposure at the current time, we would ask you to observe the following guidelines:

  • Never reply to journalists without first informing the Institut Pasteur's Press Office, which is responsible for managing media relations. Some journalists or influencers may contact you directly by telephone or email. If this happens, please direct them to the Press Office (presse@pasteur.fr).

  • Be on your guard when interacting on social media and be careful not to share any videos or information that may contain fake news, defamatory information or threats.

  • If you, your colleagues or any friends or family members receive malicious phone calls or emails, please inform menaces@pasteur.fr and you will be offered specific support.

 

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