$123,000 or 6 Years in Prison – Here’s How Much Spreading Fake News Will Cost You in Different Countries
The crisis of information online makes us victims of so-called “fake news”.
A huge resonance started after it turned out Facebook allowed Cambridge Analytica to access data on 50 million users and use it to help the election campaign of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Here’s how other countries fight with fake news phenomenon.
Malaysia
Malaysia on Monday(March 03) approved Anti Fake News Bill.
According to the new law, people who spread fake news on social media or at a digital publication would be fined up to 500,000 ringgit ($123,000) or up to six years in prison.
The law defines fake news as “news, information, data and reports which is or are wholly or partly false” and includes features, visuals and audio recordings.
The government said the law would not impinge on freedom of speech and cases under it would be handled through an independent court process.
“This law aims to protect the public from the spread of fake news, while allowing freedom of speech as provided for under the constitution,” Law Minister Azalina Othman Said told parliament.
Source: Reuters
Germany
Germany in 2017 officially unveiled a landmark social-media bill that could land social media companies to face fines of up to €50m (£43m) if they persistently fail to remove illegal content from their sites.
In such way, the country prevents spreading of fake news and hate speech.
The measure requires social media platforms to remove obviously illegal hate speech and other postings within 24 hours after receiving a notification or complaint, and to block other offensive content within seven days.
Source: Illustration by SARAH ROGERS/THE DAILY BEAST
Thailand
Thailand also has a cyber-security law under which the spread of false information carries a jail sentence of up to seven years, and the military government strictly enforces lese majeste laws that shield the royal family from insult.
Italy
In Italy, Facebook rolled out for its Italian users in November 2017 a special fact-checking programme aimed at identifying and debunking false information that appears on the site.
See also:
- Trump’s Fake News Awards and Where To Read GOOD News
- Facebook Has Quietly Been Storing Users’ Never-Posted Videos. What Else We Don’t Know, Mark?
- New Day, New Loss: Facebook Lost $100B After Data Scandal and How Tim Cook Mocked Zuckerberg
