UK Government to fine fake news websites

[MAC33 10]

What they deem as fake is up to them of course.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47826946

 

 

Jim Killock, executive director of Open Rights Group, said the government's proposals would "create state regulation of the speech of millions of British citizens".

Matthew Lesh, head of research at free market think tank the Adam Smith Institute, went further.

He said: "The government should be ashamed of themselves for leading the western world in internet censorship. 

"The proposals are a historic attack on freedom of speech and the free press.

"At a time when Britain is criticising violations of freedom of expression in states like Iran, China and Russia, we should not be undermining our freedom at home."

And freedom of speech campaigners Article 19 warned that the government "must not create an environment that encourages the censorship of legitimate expression".

Edited April 9, 2019 by MAC33

[geared 303]

Surely this is going to run into problems when the sites hosting the content are outside the UK and are simply linked to by posts on Facebook/Instagram etc?

[alchresearch 214]

This is the same Adam Smith institute that thinks its a good idea to develop "micro housing" and cram even more people into London in shoe boxes.

[Top Cats Hat 10]

3 hours ago, MAC33 said:

"The government should be ashamed of themselves for leading the western world in internet censorship. 

Or alternatively the government should be proud of itself for leading the western world in cleaning up the internet.

 

Championing peoples' right to tell lies on the internet is not a good look. 🙄

[bendix 10]

1 hour ago, Top Cats Hat said:

Or alternatively the government should be proud of itself for leading the western world in cleaning up the internet.

 

Championing peoples' right to tell lies on the internet is not a good look. 🙄

Good point.

 

I lived the first 45 years of my life in blissful ignorance of how utterly vile, ignorant, uneducated and just plain awful so many people in the world are.  It took social media to bring the truth home.

[alchresearch 214]

1 hour ago, Top Cats Hat said:

Or alternatively the government should be proud of itself for leading the western world in cleaning up the internet.

 

Exactly.  Especially as the main point of the article is to tackle child abuse, seeing as how ISPs and hosters don't seem to be doing so.

[Branyy 10]

"But it also covers harmful behaviour that has a less clear legal definition such as cyber-bullying, trolling and the spread of fake news and disinformation. "

Well, good luck with that.. I don't see that working. Ever.

[tinfoilhat 11]

I'd like it if mainstream media held politicians etc to account more often. They'll trot some pile of carefully worded horse **** but the interviewer too often just let's it go unchallenged.