Those same laws exist here in France, too, even if they are a little more complex. The truth of a statement, for example, is not a sufficient defence if that truth is not something that is public. Making someones private life public, even if your comment is true, can be against the law.

Defamation might be illegal in both the US and France, but I can burn an American flag and show contempt for the US President without commiting a crime the US. Do the same in the France and you don’t have the same protections for your speech.

Libel and defamation open you to civil suits but only perjury is criminal.

Criminal defamation is rarely prosecuted, but it's on the books in a large fraction of US states: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_defamation_law#C...