{UAH} FRANCE IS NOW FIGHTING FAKE NEWS & FAKE HISTORY
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6:26 AM |
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The French have just enacted a new law against Fake News. The law does not only target the person responsible for publishing Fake news, more importantly it aims at stopping the continued dissemination of the Fake news. This means it aims at making media organizations (including social media) more pro-active in preventing the dissemination of false information, malicious lies, and Fake news..
Of course it is important to see that any law does not become subject to abuse by its framers. Freedom of speech and that of the press are basic rights guaranteed by local and international law. But those against such measures probably at some point had to ask themselves if they wanted to be seen as facilitators of Fake News by not doing anything about the problem. Because inaction means Freedom of Fake news What about being supporters of freedom of #FakeHistory?
Surely nobody wants that. Because it means that lies and media manipulation are left to dominate the publishing space and the political discourse unchecked. This has happened even with once respectable organizations. Some have become at some point peddlers of an evil agenda rather than professional media informing the people with impartial and objective news.
I would urge all self respecting members of the press (including civil society and Human rights organizations) to protect the freedom of the press by being part of any initiative against #FakeNews and Fake history where applicable, and do so as a matter of journalistic principle.
Countries like America should have been first in bringing some form of legislation since they are said to be submerged in Fake news not only since the 2016 elections but also today where their president is constantly complaining about the scourge in the media.
Europeans also now say that Fake news has increasingly become a tool against their democracy and the freedom of choice that most of their "right-thinking" citizens claim to cherish.
Combined with corrupt journalism which is a major issue in many other parts of the world including in Africa, fake news has also further eroded the peoples trust in the media, the fourth estate. It doesn't make sense to claim to be a defender of freedom of speech and freedom of the press, yet simultaneously be complacent about Fake news and Fake history as has been the case for decades already.
Meanwhile Happy independence day to America. A nation with which Uganda once shared a common insatiable British colonial master.
By Hussein Lumumba Amin
4th July 2018
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Article (in French) on new France legislation against "Fake news" and malicious news manipulation: france24.com/fr/20180704-france-assemblee-nationale-adopte-texte-fake-news-manipulation-information-nyssen?<http://m.france24.com/fr/20180704-france-assemblee-nationale-adopte-texte-fake-news-manipulation-information-nyssen?ref=fb_i>
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Hussein Juruga Lumumba Amin
Kampala, Uganda
-- Of course it is important to see that any law does not become subject to abuse by its framers. Freedom of speech and that of the press are basic rights guaranteed by local and international law. But those against such measures probably at some point had to ask themselves if they wanted to be seen as facilitators of Fake News by not doing anything about the problem. Because inaction means Freedom of Fake news What about being supporters of freedom of #FakeHistory?
Surely nobody wants that. Because it means that lies and media manipulation are left to dominate the publishing space and the political discourse unchecked. This has happened even with once respectable organizations. Some have become at some point peddlers of an evil agenda rather than professional media informing the people with impartial and objective news.
I would urge all self respecting members of the press (including civil society and Human rights organizations) to protect the freedom of the press by being part of any initiative against #FakeNews and Fake history where applicable, and do so as a matter of journalistic principle.
Countries like America should have been first in bringing some form of legislation since they are said to be submerged in Fake news not only since the 2016 elections but also today where their president is constantly complaining about the scourge in the media.
Europeans also now say that Fake news has increasingly become a tool against their democracy and the freedom of choice that most of their "right-thinking" citizens claim to cherish.
Combined with corrupt journalism which is a major issue in many other parts of the world including in Africa, fake news has also further eroded the peoples trust in the media, the fourth estate. It doesn't make sense to claim to be a defender of freedom of speech and freedom of the press, yet simultaneously be complacent about Fake news and Fake history as has been the case for decades already.
Meanwhile Happy independence day to America. A nation with which Uganda once shared a common insatiable British colonial master.
By Hussein Lumumba Amin
4th July 2018
------------------
Article (in French) on new France legislation against "Fake news" and malicious news manipulation: france24.com/fr/20180704-france-assemblee-nationale-adopte-texte-fake-news-manipulation-information-nyssen?<http://m.france24.com/fr/20180704-france-assemblee-nationale-adopte-texte-fake-news-manipulation-information-nyssen?ref=fb_i>
--
Hussein Juruga Lumumba Amin
Kampala, Uganda
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