In the corridors of the very modern Paris court, a defendant comes to meet us at the end of a long day of trial. “I didn’t do anything, I just sent a simple message,” he certifies. He is currently – and until December 5 – on trial in the cyberharassment case against Magali Berdah. A “simple message” which, if its anti-Semitic character was not retained, alluded to a dark period in History linked to the Jewish religion of the civil party. Among the thirteen defendants cited for this cyberstalking case, many will have very different explanations, but few will carry out the “cyberstalking” action at the time of the events. Denial or simple group effect, the hell of cyberharassment is often other people.
This Tuesday, November 28 is the perfect example. At the bar of the 10th correctional chamber, three defendants paraded to tell and justify their own vision of the messages sent during the period concerned by the case, between May and September 2022. For Nicolas L., thirty-year-old working in the construction sector , there was anger. The messages were allegedly sent “in the heat of the moment” to criticize what he calls “the culture of emptiness”. “I was having personal problems at that time,” he added. His message would have been sent “to get explanations” about the world of influence that he seems to hate. “If I had met him in the street, I wouldn’t have said ‘big cunt.’ I would have asked for explanations.” However, to the question of whether he realizes having participated in group cyberharassment, no answer will really be given. “I did not think that my message would be considered harassment and death threats. They were sent suddenly, at a certain time.”
“Finish you”, common language on Twitter
The turn of Mathias D. arrives, a 34-year-old former sports coach who converted to marketing. During the same period, he allegedly sent death threats to Magali Berdah: “We just want to finish you.” He explains that he was not aware of anything about the Booba-Berdah affair. But he would have been the victim of a scam of more than 1,000 euros from Marc Blata’s influencer. “I had a feeling of helplessness, more than malice.” His apologies will be timid. How to explain the lexicon used in his messages sent to Magali Berdah? “I believe that it is a language in everyday life that is not appropriate, a Twitter language used quite frequently. The phrase “finito” is often used on Twitter.”
At the end of the day, Martin H., 31, finally took the stand. He describes himself as a “humanist” and will be the only one for the moment to ask for forgiveness. “I would like to offer my deepest apologies to Madam Berdah. There is no real basis for the comments sent.” The Parisian asset manager, however, will find no justification to give to explain his messages: “You are going to die, you and your Nazi husband. Poor bitch. We’re going to quarter.” This last term comes, according to Martin H., from a song by Booba – who, although it has all its importance in this trial, was not cited as a defendant. “I take responsibility for what I did, however, I cannot be able to explain what I said,” explained Martin H. during the trial, even admitting to having stayed away from social networks since his arrest. He too will justify “a somewhat complicated personal period” between a professional reconversion and problems in his relationship.
“I don’t feel concerned”
But among the three defendants, none admits to having participated in group cyberharassment. No violent intent has been demonstrated. “I have never experienced cyberbullying. After thinking about it, I told myself that it was one more message,” Nicolas L. will point out before explaining that he does not recognize the term cyberharassment in his case. “It wasn’t a rehearsed message. I don’t feel concerned.” If he did not wish for “any physical or mental degradation”, Mathias D. specifies that he was not aware of anything about the wave of hatred online. “I’m not justifying the fact that influencers receive death threats, but it’s part of the job to receive messages.”
Finally, Martin H. had not realized that his messages could “hurt and reach”. He no longer really remembers his messages and will even question the fact of being the sender. “Many communications have been sent. I just don’t remember sending those types of messages.”