Germany Considers Fining Facebook $522,000 Per Fake News Item
Found on Heatstreet on Sunday, 01 January 2017
The law would also force the social networks to create in-country offices focused on responding to takedown demands and would make these networks responsible for compensation if a post by individual users were found to slander someone.
German lawmakers believe this bill will help tackle the possibility of Russia meddling in Parliamentary elections scheduled for next year. This follows the allegations that the Kremlin was behind the hacking of the Democratic National Committee that led to the leak of thousands of emails by key aides to Hillary Clinton.
German politicians and the Internet: a neverending source for ridiculous ideas. Small social networks outside Germany simply will not care since they cannot be fined in their home country. Russia will just laugh about that instead of stopping their efforts (in case they are planning anything). Besides, in most cases it is not so easy to verify the claims within 24 hours so they can be flagged. Also, what about those websites who repost the fake news? Finally, if this law really should become a reality, it should not be limited to social networks, but to all media. Then you could also fine news organisations for fake headlines, like that one where Russian hackers strike at US electrical grid, because the laptop in question was not even connected to the grid. For even more effect, the law should also include fake promises made by politicians.