Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Parents of Avignon’s New Year Baby File Police Complaint Over Racist Online Abuse

A police confirmation underscores how routine coverage of the city’s first newborn devolved into harassment beyond what moderators could contain.

Overview

  • The complaint was lodged on January 7 and confirmed by an Avignon police source, following days of abusive posts.
  • La Provence’s January 1 article introduced the infant, Zaïd, born around 1:30 a.m. at 4.42 kg, noting the Arabic origin of his name.
  • Editors reported hundreds of reactions that escalated into explicitly racist and violent messages directed at the child.
  • La Provence said hate comments resurfaced roughly every 20 minutes despite active moderation, prompting the closure of comments.
  • Avignon mayor Cécile Helle condemned the abuse as horrifying and warned about the deviant potential of social networks.