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French Tweets Bypass Election Results Ban

Reminiscent of Second World War radio communications, the public set Twitter alight with jokes, code and cryptic messages after the first round of presidential election results. "Netherlands-Hungary qualify for return leg," said one tweet in a play on the name of Socialist challenger Francois Hollande and the origin of President Nicolas Sarkozy's father. Seeking to enforce a 1977 law that imposed a blackout on disclosing results, authorities threatened fines of up to 75,000 euros for breaches. In return, they got derision and defiance.

Read the whole story at The Telegraph »

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