France: the turbulent beginnings of the Bronner commission against online disinformation

A team of fifteen academics and personalities, is tasked by Emmanuel Macron to make proposals by the end of December 2021 in the face of the grip of conspiracy theories and disinformation in the public debate.

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Text by: Dominique Desaunay Follow

2 min

Launched on September 29, the “Bronner Commission”, which bears the name of the sociologist who chairs it, is the subject of heated debate on social networks.

This new body responsible for formulating proposals to the government to fight against online disinformation is criticized for having integrated into its ranks a professor of medicine, suspected of "conspiracy".

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Barely installed and already in turmoil, the Bronner commission wanted by Emmanuel Macron has set four objectives.

The sociologist Gérald Bronner and the thirteen members who compose it will first have to "

define a scientific consensus on the impact of infox in our lives

".

The second is to “ 

formulate proposals”

concerning education, prevention, regulation and penal sanctions that should be opposed to

“hate entrepreneurs

” online.

Third objective, "

imagine new common spaces

" on the Web to promote "democracy", "citizenship" and the "

collective

".

A surgeon at the heart of the controversy

Critics of the commission focused on the person of surgeon Guy Valencien.

The pulmonologist Irène Frachon,

at the origin of the alert on the dangers of the Mediator, questioned in the press the probity of this professor of medicine. According to her, he was one of the "

spearheads of a nebula made up of doctors, professors and academics, who for years have tried to minimize or even deny the seriousness of the human tragedy caused by the Mediator.

".

Immediately the controversy swells on social networks.

"

 He has just been sanctioned in June by the Order of Physicians for using false medical certificates,

 " an Internet user fulminates.

Guy Vallancien is also known for having directed the Center for the donation of bodies at Descartes University, from 2004 to 2014. A structure which had become a veritable mass grave,

" adds another.

Guest this Sunday of the program “C Politique” of the channel France 5, Gérald Bronner defended the choices which guided him to appoint members of the Commission. 

Fight against disinformation

The first meeting of the body was held on Monday, October 4 to decide with Guy Vallancien what follow-up should be given to this case.

Meeting for the first time in a working session on Monday evening, the Commission finally opted for the retention of Guy Vallancien after having "

heard at length

".

The person concerned has since denounced, with the support of other members of the body, the "

disinformation

" conveyed by his detractors and of which he was the main victim.

Also to listen on RFI: The bottom of the Infox: CIA / Al Qaeda collusion: a stubborn infox

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