Should fake news be subject to criminal prosecution?

Should fake news be subject to criminal prosecution?

  • Yes

  • No

  • Only if it is defamatory or leads to something illegal like violence


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Angel Wings 1288

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These days, fake news is ubiquitous. Media like CNN are constantly publishing fake news such as the lie that Russian agents infiltrated the 2016 US presidential election and stole it from Hillary. Also, if anyone remembers the Trayvon Martin shooting incidence from 2012, that was also fake news. The media made it look like a racist “white” vigilante, who doesn't look white in the least bit, murdered an innocent black boy. The media mislead the viewers by publishing pictures of Trayvon when he was much younger. In reality, it was a neighborhood watchman who followed a suspicious-looking person and was then savagely assaulted and nearly killed for it (Zimmerman wasn’t doing anything illegal by following someone who looked up to no good). MSNBC also edited the 911 call from Zimmerman to make it look like he racially profiled Trayvon, which is fake news in the extreme.

Fake news is bad because it willfully misinforms the viewers. In the case of Trayvon Martin fake news, it lead to mass protests and some incidences of violence. So do you think media outlets and journalists who publish fake news should be subject to criminal prosecution? Discuss.
 
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FenderTL5

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So you would propose to re-regulate media (it was deregulated in stages across the 80s in the name of free-market capitalism)?

The original usage of the "fake news" moniker; stories intended as satire/humor were so close to reality that some news outlets, not realizing the story's intent, ran the piece as-if it were real.
It was not the 'editorial license' that you refer to in your OP and has become the working definition since Trump misused the term.

Given that both the free press and free speech are protected in the Constitution, I'd be hesitant to be in favor of anything without a thorough look into the ramifications.
 
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WolfGate

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So you would propose to re-regulate media (it was deregulated in stages across the 80s in the name of free-market capitalism)?

The original usage of the "fake news" moniker; stories intended as satire/humor were so close to reality that some news outlets, not realizing the story's intent, ran the piece as-if it were real.
It was not the 'editorial license' that you refer to in your OP and has become the working definition since Trump misused the term.

Given that both the free press and free speech are protected in the Constitution, I'd be hesitant to be in favor of anything without a thorough look into the ramifications.

I think the original use of fake news were the stories intended as click bait (to generate ad revenue) written with patently false stories that are things highly partisan people would want to believe, in hopes they would share and generate more clicks and therefore revenue.

Examples were the "Obama has directed Sheriffs to confiscate CCP holder's guns if Trump elected" or "Email shows Hillary sent young girls Bill's way when he was President".

Stories were never intended as satire/humor, but some did get picked up when they were shared so much.
 
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JackRT

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The Federal Communications Commission under President Ronald Reagan abolished the Fairness Doctrine which since 1949 required media to present the opinion of both sides in the event that they were not just reporting straight news. In 1987 a Democratic controlled Congress passed a bill to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine. It was vetoed by Reublican President Reagan. We might call him the father of Fake News.
 
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Angel Wings 1288

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Well, there goes Bannon and Breitbart News, the Daily Caller, all of Fox News political pundits, Limbaugh, Alex Jones, and a slew of others...

Are you suggesting that all conservative news outlets should be censored so that only leftist media remains? That sounds very intolerant of you. (And I thought it was the left that champions tolerance.)

By the way, Fox News is a perfectly legitimate source of news. They have never reported anything that isn’t true. The fact that you think their pundits are proponents of fake news testifies to how much left-wing bias dominates your thinking. You should try to become more moderate with how you perceive the world.
 
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bdmulneaux

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Russian agents infiltrated the 2016 US presidential election and stole it from Hillary
No one (at least on the myriad of news sources I follow) has suggested that the Russians stole the election from Hillary. There is, however, incontravertible evidence that the Russians were attempting to influence the election, which every American, including the president, should be taking very seriously. The fact that the president does not take Russian meddling in our political process seriously is indeed telling.
 
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Yarddog

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Are you suggesting that all conservative news outlets should be censored so that only leftist media remains?
Nope, this is your thread but if fake news is prosecuted then a majority of conservative pundits will lead the way. There are lefties that will be there too but right wing media pundits are basically liars.
That sounds very intolerant of you. (And I thought it was the left that champions tolerance.)
I didn't say that I wanted any of them to be prosecuted but then I believe in freedom of speech.
By the way, Fox News is a perfectly legitimate source of news.
I didn't say anything about their News section. There is a difference between their news bureau and their political section.

They have never reported anything that isn’t true. The fact that you think their pundits are proponents of fake news testifies to how much left-wing bias dominates your thinking.
All of their political pundits propagate fakes news and have for over 20 years.
You should try to become more moderate with how you perceive the world.
I am a moderate. I agree with the Republican platform on some issues and agree with the Democrats on some issues but I completely disagree with amount of lies that is coming out of the conservative movement over the past 17 years.
 
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Angel Wings 1288

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Angel Wings 1288

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You better hope this doesn't become a law, if "fake news" is made criminal then that's one more thing President Trump is in danger of getting in trouble for. :wave:
tulc(is just sayn') :sorry:

Where has Trump ever promoted fake news?
:wave:
Angel Wings 1288(is just wantin' to know)
 
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tulc

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Where has Trump ever promoted fake news?
:wave:
Angel Wings 1288(is just wantin' to know)
From the link bdmulneaux provided:
  1. Birtherism
    An ‘extremely credible source’ has called my office and told me that @BarackObama’s birth certificate is a fraud.
    4:23 PM - 6 Aug 2012

    In March 2011, Mr. Trump started raising questions about President Obama’s birthplace and birth certificate on television, on shows that included ABC’s “The View” and NBC’s “Today.” The notion had been debunked and pushed to the realm of conspiracy theorists after Mr. Obama released his short-form birth certificate from the Hawaii Department of Health in 2008.

    Mr. Trump also promoted his claims through Twitter, citing “an ‘extremely credible source’” that called his office and allegedly told him the certificate was a fraud, as well as linking to posts on blogs like WND.com and FreedomOutpost.com. While Mr. Trump was roundly denounced for continuing to push the conspiracy theory, it solidified his connection to the largely white Republican base that was so instrumental in his election victory in November.
and this one:
  1. Ted Cruz’s Father
    Mr. Trump made comments in a Fox News interview last May accusing Senator Ted Cruz’s father of associating with Lee Harvey Oswald shortly before the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

    Mr. Trump’s remarks — made on the day of the Republican primary in Indiana — came after The National Enquirer claimed it had photographic proof that Mr. Cruz’s father, Rafael Cruz, was “palling around” with Mr. Oswald before the shooting. Mr. Cruz’s campaign called that report error-filled and condemned Mr. Trump for campaigning “on false tabloid garbage.”

    The fact-checking website Politifact noted that “several historians of the period told us they’ve never seen Cruz’s name come up in connection with Oswald.”
and this one:
In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally
3:30 PM - 27 Nov 2016

After winning the presidential election but losing the popular vote, Mr. Trump took to Twitter to claim that he actually received more votes than Mrs. Clinton “if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally.” The notion was popularized by Infowars, a website replete with conspiracy theories that include questioning the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

The overwhelming consensus from people who oversaw the general election in states around the country was that the amount of voter fraud in 2016 was next to none.
there's three (out of the 10 they listed) Once you've rebutted those we can provide more as needed. :wave:
tulc(finding fake news President Trump has pushed is pretty easy to do) :)
 
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tulc

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If you're going to post a link, then you need to write a brief summary of its contents. I won't click on something that has no description of what it's about. Learn how to make at least half-way decent quality posts.
Here's a couple of things from that link:
This scorecard shows the ratings for statements made on air by Fox, Fox News and Fox Business personalities and their pundit guests. Rulings do not include statements made on air by politicians or paid spokespeople.

tulc(in case you were curious) :)
 
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