Frank Casa

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:43:35 -0600 last edited: Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:47:39 -0600

frank@frank.casa

Quick question. If the ruling political party deems something to be disinformation, and the search engine or social media site suppresses that information, but later it is found out to be true, can we sue them or fine them for spreading disinformation, since they suppressed accurate information at the request of the government?

Or, to put more simply, are there penalties for suppressing true information that is falsely flagged as disinformation?

#Disinformation #disinformationcampaign

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Tue, 26 Nov 2024 13:08:45 -0600

Cartel Institute

syndicate@cartel.institute

The purpose of the disinformation law is to prevent your political opponents from spreading their information. So the search engines and social media sites won't be penalized for spreading disinformation until the opposing party takes power. But if we successfully suppressed our opponent's message, they won't be able to win the next election, so it does not matter.

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 17:01:36 -0600

Marshall Sutherland

dwatney@hub.farthinghalearms.com

Malinformation is true information that is inconvenient to the ruling party (I'm sure their definition is different). By its very definition, what is malinformation at one time may not be at another. Of course, they are probably more likely to label something as disinformation (false) rather than malinformation (truth we don't like).

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 17:30:10 -0600

Bill Statler

billstatler@forum.statler.ws

Well, in the US:

Anyone can sue anyone for any reason. If you have expensive lawyers and they don't, this is a great way to keep them in line. If the reverse is true, lottery tickets will have a higher expected payback than lawsuits.
The First Amendment says only that the government can't interfere with freedom of speech or the press, so search engines and social media are off the hook. This, of course, is theoretical, because the government can sue or indict anyone for any reason, and they own the best lawyers as well as the laws and the courts.

Speaking less cynically for a moment: I don't want the government or the courts involved in deciding what is information and what is disinformation. (Exceptions for libel/slander, incitement to riot, falsely shouting "fire" in a crowded theater, and so forth.) I don't want giant corporations and billionaires involved either, but at least we have workarounds for that (e.g., the Fediverse).

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 21:21:48 -0600

Frank Casa

frank@frank.casa

The EU Commission wants very large search engines and very large social media platforms to generate reports on disinformation. I am curious who decides what is disinformation.

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 11:46:59 -0600

Marshall Sutherland

dwatney@hub.farthinghalearms.com

Maybe they will form a Ministry of Truth.
I think it would be fun to bombard them with everything anyone ever says that is wrong on the Internet.