A federal judge’s preliminary injunction could impact government efforts to combat online disinformation

  • Nightwingdragon@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    My god, I wonder if people understand how truly horrific this ruling is.

    This ruling directly says that lies are, as they call it, “protected free speech” and specifically prohibits the government from being able to do anything meaningful to combat it. So the next time some dumbass group says that vaccines are made of radioactive waste and will turn you into one of the aliens from District 9, the government won’t be able to do anything to stop them.

    But a children’s book that discusses little Suzy and her two mommies is too much for society to handle and is therefore not also protected speech. Because reasons. Or something.

    • May@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      So I dont live in the U.S.A. but I’m wondering what happens if the governement does anyway? Like after this, if someone says something not true and the governement still uses the same measures to clarify it isn’t true, then what? Does that governement get in trouble?

    • BumpingFuglies
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      1 year ago

      So the next time some dumbass group says that vaccines are made of radioactive waste and will turn you into one of the aliens from District 9, the government won’t be able to do anything to stop them.

      Good. People shouldn’t rely on the government to determine what’s true. No person or organization should have that power. If somebody makes a dubious claim, let the people decide for themselves whether to believe it. After all, it’s not like the government is always right/right (correct/just).

      Good example: the government’s stance on various hallucinogenic drugs. It’s common knowledge now that cannabis, psilocybin, and possibly LSD have incredible medical benefits with relatively little drawback, but does the federal government acknowledge that scientific fact? Nope. I can’t say why for sure, but the most likely answer is that powerful people in the government profit from the war on drugs, and so use their power to keep it going.

      I miss the days when being liberal meant being suspicious of the government. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only liberal left in a sea of neolibs.