First in the Nation: California Attempts ‘Fake News’ Ban

[The Annoyed Man]

https://heatst.com/politics/first-in-th ... -news-ban/

Next week, the California Assembly will be one of the first legislatures to try to ban so-called “fake news,” and it could have sweeping ramifications for social media users across the state.

The bill, filed Wednesday in the Assembly’s Committee on Privacy and Consumer Affairs, seeks, essentially, to make it a crime to be wrong on the Internet. The text of the bill implicates anyone who writes, publishes or even shares news stories they know could be false, if those news stories later have an impact on an election.

18320.5. It is unlawful for a person to knowingly and willingly make, publish or circulate on an Internet Web site, or cause to be made, published, or circulated in any writing posted on an Internet Web site, a false or deceptive statement designed to influence the vote on either of the following:

(a) Any issue submitted to voters at an election.

(b) Any candidate for election to public office.

Share fake news, in other words, and face a punishment levied by the state of California.

The bill does say that you have to “knowingly and willfully” make reference to a set of “alternative facts,” but it doesn’t give details on who would determine a story is “fake news” or, for that matter, what a “fake news” story even is.

They have openly gone over to fascism. Incredible.

[parabelum]

There ya go. Bye, or rather, Aufwiedersehen Cali.

[The Dude]

Does this cover online political ads with false campaign promises?

[Keith B]

The state that has more people per capita with fake body parts is trying to make it illegal to try and fool someone. Sheesh!!

[Ed4032]

Did they do this on April fools day?? Makes sense...

[Mxrdad]

Ironic isn't it? California bans fake news. HHHMMMM..............

[Abraham]

“alternative facts"?

There's no such thing.

Something is either a fact or it isn't, but it can't be "alternative" unless that's a very oblique way to reference lies...

Whoever wrote that tortured piece of verbal garbage ought to be fired!

And that's a fact!

[Pawpaw]

The truly sad part is that likely they will pass this into law and the 9th Circus will uphold it.

[Soccerdad1995]

So a California hotel room that allows MSNBC on its' guest room TV's is breaking this law?

I dislike the Liberal bias and tendency to spout falsehoods as much as the next person, but I think this law takes things a bit too far.

[Oldgringo]

“alternative facts"?

There's no such thing.

Something is either a fact or it isn't, but it can't be "alternative" unless that's a very oblique way to reference lies...

Whoever wrote that tortured piece of verbal garbage ought to be fired!

And that's a fact!

I get when reading that someone claims to have the "true facts" on some thing or another somebody.