Criminal inquiry launched as Twitter users leak France poll resultsReported by Metro.co.uk on Monday, 23 April 2012 (on April 23, 2012)
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*Police in France launched a criminal inquiry into Twitter, Facebook and other internet users who leaked the results of the presidential election early.*
Exit strategy: President Nicolas Sarkozy arrives at his campaign headquarters following his first round defeat (Picture: AP)
Detectives began to target anyone who used social media and news websites to break a strict 8pm embargo prior to Socialist Francois Hollande’s first vote win ahead of president Nicolas Sarkozy.
National news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) is at the centre of the investigation after it provided early exit poll results. Belgian and Swiss newspapers and even a blog site based in New Zealand are also being scrutinised.
Twitter users used the subject hash-tag ‘Radio Londres’ (Radio London) to post coded messages about the results. Aliases for the once tubby Mr Hollande included ‘the flan’ while 5ft 5in Mr Sarkozy was nicknamed ‘platform heels’, after the built-up shoes he wears to make him look taller.
Prosecutor Francois Molins said anyone convicted would face a fine of up to £50,000 in what would be a test case for governments trying to police the worldwide web.
Mr Hollande, who took 28.6 per cent of the vote, and Mr Sarkozy, who won 27.1 per cent, go into the second round run-off on May 6.
Mr Sarkozy will be courting voters who backed third-placed Marine Le Pen, whose far-right National Front took a record 18 per cent.
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