[summer]

It is not illegal to lie.

But actually, it can be illegal to lie. There are many laws prohibiting people from falsifying all kinds of documents, and forgery is a crime based on a lie.

[Timesink]

But actually, it can be illegal to lie. There are many laws prohibiting people from falsifying all kinds of documents, and forgery is a crime based on a lie.

You're right; I should have added a caveat. It is not illegal to lie in general. And the courts have specifically ruled that it is not illegal for news organizations to run completely made-up stories as long as nobody is wronged.