The Russian government has taken a step to criminalize fake news, without properly defining it. The Washington Examiner reports:
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed legislation Monday that make it illegal to spread “fake news.”
The law also criminalizes the sharing of information that “exhibits blatant disrespect for the society, government, official government symbols, constitution or governmental bodies of Russia.”
Prosecutors are now allowed to direct complaints viewed as insulting to the government, which can block websites from publishing the information. Publications that spread the offending information may face fines up to $23,000 and repeat offenders face up to 15 days in jail.
Opponents to the law have said it will allow the government to cut off access to social media and websites critical of the Kremlin amid public discontent.
This autocratic act shows the importance of the First Amendment, and anyone calling for its curtailment can only be in support of such policies.
The First Amendment curtailed it was considered so important by the Founding Fathers that they made it the First Amendment; however in recent years the media has abused and even tried to hide behind it. The put out a story with the Headlines in bold two inch font, “TRUMP ACCUSED OF COLLUSION WITH RUSSIA” and then somewhere down at the very bottom in 6 point font is a statement such as; “Information provided by an un-named source, who is not authorized to speak on this subject.” How about an article I read recently the headlines declaring that “FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP HAS A BODY DOUBLE”. The article went on to say that this double has been use on a number of occasions; once again way down at the bottom of this Breaking News was the reason for this speculation. On one occasion the First Lady was seen wearing one type of shoe getting on Air Force One and a different type of shoe when she got off at the final destination. Now I am not the President of a Country, nor for that matter the president of a major corporation but my wife must have at least fifty pairs of shoes and when we go out she usually brings a pair of comfortable shoes or sandals so she can kick off the high heels. I have seen various articles about the estimated Net Worth of the First Lady and they range from $20 to $50 Million Dollars; even if she only has half of that money I’m sure she could afford more than one pair of shoes. The media puts out this kind of crap and promotes it as Real News and then they don’t understand why we believe most if not all they put out is FAKE NEWS.
They won’t get shut down, the whole industry is in on it. Who you complain to, wont get you no place! You see what Putin is doing? I said that years ago. If they print or spread fake lying news they should pay a huge fine & get shut down! Get them where it hurts in their wallet and ratings! How dare they tell lies to the ignorant trusting people that don’t know better because they dont pay attention to the criminal activity that’s going on right under theihir noses! TheY watch cartoons NOT THE REAL NEWS! THESE LIES WILL STOP IF YOU SHUT THEM DOWN- MAKE IT A LAW PRESIDENT TRUMP- YOU KNOW JOURNALISM IS DEAD! GOD HELP OUR COUNTRY!
And NO VLAD, We’re against LIES!!!! Idiot!
It is a front door to socialism just like in the 30’s when hitler took power.
I’m glad you know that. Lots of people buy into the fake news that Hitler was not a socialist and neo nazies are often falsely characterized as the far right fringe. Nazies are as far left as it gets.
CORRECT!
The Left HAS to create Right-wing villains… because all the really evil dudes were Leftists.
THIS is why they want to deem Hitler to be a Right-winger.
He rose to power just like Lenin (promising freedom but knowing it would be a dictatorship) (Guess who burned the Reichstag?) …government took control of businesses… established a quota system for agriculture… murdered opponents… thoroughly indoctrinated children… attacked Christianity… took away citizens guns… the State became all-important and omnipotent… the voiceless citizens suffered. Both Left as Left could be.
Same with Mao’s China and Mussolini’s Italy.
But liberal academics preach that they were OPPOSITES.
“Then how come Russia was the “Union of Soviet SOCIALIST Republics” and the Nazi’s were “National SOCIALIST German Workers’ Party”?
“Oh, well, never mind that… the Nazi’s weren’t REALLY socialists… it was a different kind of socialism… it was, ummm… say… did you see the ball game last night??”
Nazism is an abbreviation of “National SOCIALIST German Workers’ Party” and that for decades, Mussolini was a socialist until he learned that Italians would respond to collectivism better when associated with Italy rather than the “International Proletariat”. There isn’t a penny’s difference between Communism, Fascism, and Socialism except Fascism is nationality aimed, Communism and Socialism are internationally aimed. In the end, it doesn’t matter. They ALL want to rule your life.
As simple as it gets:
RIGHT: government exists to obey and support the goals of The People.
LEFT: people exist to obey and support the goals of The Government.
Hitler’s party and Mussolini’s party were of the far-LEFTIST kind – as their names unmistakably state:
1) Deutsche Nazional Sozialistische Arbeiter Partei = German National SOCIALIST Workers Party.
2) Partito Sozialista Italiano = Italian SOCIALIST Party.
Note that Hitler, Il Duce, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot and others were all liberals or socialists and atheists. Not Conservatives or Christians.
All networks that lie and use fake news should have their broadcasting license taken from them. No warning just shut them down. They are hurting the country and dividing it. Do your job and shut them down!
This should have been done decades ago!!! The reason it hasn’t is because those who are really running our government are destroying America and the FAKE news is the greatest offender. The penalty for Treason is Death!
They won’t get shut down, the whole industry is in on it. Who you complain to, wont get you no place! You see what Putin is doing? I said that years ago. If they print or spread fake lying news they should pay a huge fine & get shut down! Get them where it hurts in their wallet and ratings! How dare they tell lies to the ignorant trusting people that don’t know better because they dont pay attention to the criminal activity that’s going on right under their noses! TheY watch cartoons NOT THE REAL NEWS! THESE LIES WILL STOP IF YOU SHUT THEM DOWN- MAKE IT A LAW PRESIDENT TRUMP- YOU KNOW JOURNALISM IS DEAD! GOD HELP OUR COUNTRY!
The problem with what you and others here propose is who determines what is true, or what is a lie. Therefore, the press to be effective, must be allowed latitude to stray from the truth and the opposition press must be allowed latitude to point out the lies. Otherwise, we have dictatorship in short order.
I agree that fake news can be a back door to tyranny, so how about legislation with harsh penalties for FAKE news? There had to be accountability.
That’s EXACTLY what Russia just did! I take it that you’re in favour of the government punishing speech.
They won’t get shut down, the whole industry is in on it. Who you complain to, wont get you no place! You see what Putin is doing? I said that years ago. If they print or spread fake lying news they should pay a huge fine & get shut down! Get them where it hurts in their wallet and ratings! How dare they tell lies to the ignorant trusting people that don’t know better because they dont pay attention to the criminal activity that’s going on right under their noses! TheY watch cartoons NOT THE REAL NEWS! THESE LIES WILL STOP IF YOU SHUT THEM DOWN- MAKE IT A LAW PRESIDENT TRUMP- YOU KNOW JOURNALISM IS DEAD! GOD HELP OUR COUNTRY! Mb 0 0p
That is because he did not think it all the way through. The public must remain alert and beware of lies on their own.
Wake up America! Say NO to Socialism-Communism. Vote Republican. Help keep America free.
They won’t get shut down, the whole industry is in on it. Who you complain to, wont get you no place! You see what Putin is doing? I said that years ago. If they print or spread fake lying news they should pay a huge fine & get shut down! Get them where it hurts in their wallet and ratings! How dare they tell lies to the ignorant trusting people that don’t know better because they dont pay attention to the criminal activity that’s going on right under their noses! TheY watch cartoons NOT THE REAL NEWS! THESE LIES WILL STOP IF YOU SHUT THEM DOWN- MAKE IT A LAW PRESIDENT TRUMP- YOU KNOW JOURNALISM IS DEAD! GOD HELP OUR COUNTRY!
And NO VLAD, We’re against LIES!!!! Idiot!
GROW THE 65 MILLION WHO VOTED FOR MAGA MAN TO 100 MILLION. DO IT OR LOSE YOUR YOUR COUNTRY. START WITH YOUR RELATIVES.
We cant trust anyone anymore. It appears gay Jews run the show. They hate themselves for what they are,so they’re willing to force Islam on everybody for punishment.
It’s not the gay Jews.. nor gays alone, nor Jews alone who run everything.. They make a lot of noise, but behind the scenes it’s much more sinister…
They won’t get shut down, the whole industry is in on it. Who you complain to, wont get you no place! You see what Putin is doing? I said that years ago. If they print or spread fake lying news they should pay a huge fine & get shut down! Get them where it hurts in their wallet and ratings! How dare they tell lies to the ignorant trusting people that don’t know better because they dont pay attention to the criminal activity that’s going on right under their noses! TheY watch cartoons NOT THE REAL NEWS! THESE LIES WILL STOP IF YOU SHUT THEM DOWN- MAKE IT A LAW PRESIDENT TRUMP- YOU KNOW JOURNALISM IS DEAD! GOD HELP OUR COUNTRY!
Thank you for your input Congresswoman Omar..
It does not help for anti-Semites to participate in free speech, but they, too, must be allowed freedom of speech.
It does not help if anti-Semites, such as Dan Winright participate in these discussions, but even anti-semites are entitled to their say.