Posted on 03/26/2018 7:51:20 AM PDT by Olog-hai
Malaysia’s government proposed new legislation Monday to outlaw fake news and punish offenders with a 10-year jail sentence, a move slammed by critics as a bid to crack down on dissent ahead of a general election.
Prime Minister Najib Razak has been dogged by a multibillion-dollar corruption scandal involving an indebted state fund, and rights activists fear the new law could be used to criminalize news reports and critical opinions on government misconduct. A general election must be held by August but is widely expected in the next few weeks.
The anti-fake news bill, which must be approved by parliament, calls for penalizing those who create, offer, circulate, print or publish fake news or publications containing fake news with a 10-year jail term, a fine of up to 500,000 ringgit ($128,000) or both.
The bill defines fake news as “any news, information, data and reports which is, or are, wholly or partly false whether in the form of features, visuals or audio recordings or in any other form capable of suggesting words or ideas.” It covers all mediums and extends to even foreigners outside Malaysia as long as Malaysia or its citizens are affected.
“This is an attack on the press and an attempt to instill fear among the (people)” before the general election, opposition lawmaker Ong Kian Ming tweeted.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
CNN, look out!
In the US it’s considered free speech under the Constitution.
Well, you can’t get much more “1984” than this, unless you bring up “Hate Speech”.
The bill defines fake news as “any news, information, data and reports which is, or are, wholly or partly false whether in the form of features, visuals or audio recordings or in any other form capable of suggesting words or ideas.”
I wonder what the standard is for declaring something false and who or what body gets to decide?
And how soon before such laws are passed here?
Fake news in Malaysia is anything that doesn’t agree with Islam
(HA) 26 March 2018: Prime Minister Najib Razak of Malaysia today announced that he has been a homosexual transvestite since the early 1990’s and promises to hold a state ball. Designers from around the world are clamoring to have the honor of making a dress for Razak with selected designers saying that he should look cute in pink chiffon and taffeta.
How many “fake news” stories promulgated by conservatives are denounced at first, but are found truthful in the end?
Contrast that to the dems and “newsies”, who celebrate the lie and just change the subject when they are eventually proven wrong.
Fake news is sedition. It transgresses free speech as it becomes political propaganda.
Every crime is based on a foundation of falsehood. I’ve always said that; nothing will change until lying is made to be a painful and expensive habit.
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