Posted on 04/09/2017 6:37:06 PM PDT by John Semmens
Frustrated with its inability to control the narrative in our current age of abundant social media, the Merkel Regime has decided to fine media firms that allow false news on their platforms. The penalty can range as high as $50 million for an offense the government determines is "dangerously out-of-step with accepted views."
German Justice Minister Heiko Maas lamented that "unconstrained free speech has unleashed an avalanche of uniformed and anti-social messages being posted on FaceBook and Twitter. The proof of the danger is the fact that an unhinged Donald Trump was able to exploit Twitter to foment disrespect for his eminently more qualified opponent and win the American presidential election. We are not going to sit by and let that happen to Germany. It is the government's responsibility to protect its citizens from being duped by unauthorized purveyors of fake news."
A similar piece of legislation was introduced in the California Legislature by Assemblyman Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park). Under his bill anyone who writes, publishes or even shares news stories that could be false would face punishment.
Chau called the bill "an important step forward in the fight against 'fake news' and deceptive campaign tactics. It used to be difficult for malcontents to slander the government. Newspaper editors controlled whose letters they printed. TV and radio decided who deserved air time. Now, anyone who can write or record a video can have it viewed by millions on the Internet or Twitter. We need to restore the filter provided by legitimate media. My bill does that."
The Assemblyman rebuffed critics who contend his bill violates the First Amendment, saying that "the First Amendment says 'Congress shall pass no law abridging freedom of speech.' Well, the California Assembly is not Congress and my bill doesn't abridge freedom of speech. It merely establishes standards that would outlaw false or incorrect speech by unqualified or deceptive amateurs."
if you missed any of this week's other semi-news/semi-satire posts you can find them at...
http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,257583.0.html
Yes.
Sadly how they think..............
Yikes. The “news” has indeed become “satire”. We are so screwed...
Good one, John!
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