'Disaster for free speech': Florida defamation, libel bill alarms advocates

[Scott]

 Weeks after Gov. Ron DeSantis said he wants to make it easier to sue media outlets, proposed legislation that would do that and more has emerged in the Republican-led Florida Legislature. 

Sponsored by Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, that proposal, House Bill 991, would lower the bar on who’s considered a public figure under defamation law – and lower the bar on what’s considered defamation. 

Andrade touts the legislation as a way for people to get justice for harms – not just from journalists but anyone making defamatory statements, like over social media.

https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2023/02/28/florida-defamation-libel-bill-a-free-speech-disaster-advocates-say/69942631007/

[candide]

GOP: the party claiming to be pro-free speech and which actually acts against it....

[Tug]

Why do I get the feeling if this is signed into law it will come back to haunt them?

[Credo]

19 minutes ago, Tug said:

Why do I get the feeling if this is signed into law it will come back to haunt them?

Boy, oh boy, oh boy, I do think Trump will be in court on a constant basis!

 

[placeholder]

What this bill is really about is empowering the wealthy and powerful to suppress criticism. It's right out of the standard Republican playbook. Do something that will increase the power of the wealthy and powerful, but do it in the name of ideology, in this case going after the liberal media. When it come to the Republicans the rule should always be "follow the money".

In the UK, where libel laws are much stricter, this has allowed wealthy individuals virtual immunity to practice skullduggery. There was the famous case of Robert Maxwell who pillaged the pension funds of his workers but got away with it because the media was too intimidated by the prospect of a ruinous lawsuit to go after him.

[Bkk Brian]

Its not getting much better, they are after the bloggers now too

 

Florida blogger registration bill ‘insane,’ Gingrich tweets

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A Republican lawmaker in Florida wants bloggers who write about elected officials to register with the state, a proposal that’s raised First Amendment concerns and the ire of GOP firebrand Newt Gingrich.

 

The bill, filed by Sen. Jason Brodeur of Lake Mary, would require bloggers to file periodic reports with the state if they are paid for posts about the state’s governor, lieutenant governor, cabinet members or legislative officials.

 

Bloggers would have to disclose who paid them and how much, along with other information such as where the post is located online. 

https://apnews.com/article/desantis-blogger-registration-media-republican-florida-07f3fa45848f351a0b2696455d0c4372

[Chomper Higgot]

One more goose step towards fascism.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

Its not getting much better, they are after the bloggers now too

 

Florida blogger registration bill ‘insane,’ Gingrich tweets

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A Republican lawmaker in Florida wants bloggers who write about elected officials to register with the state, a proposal that’s raised First Amendment concerns and the ire of GOP firebrand Newt Gingrich.

 

The bill, filed by Sen. Jason Brodeur of Lake Mary, would require bloggers to file periodic reports with the state if they are paid for posts about the state’s governor, lieutenant governor, cabinet members or legislative officials.

 

Bloggers would have to disclose who paid them and how much, along with other information such as where the post is located online. 

https://apnews.com/article/desantis-blogger-registration-media-republican-florida-07f3fa45848f351a0b2696455d0c4372

Make that two more goose steps towards fascism.

[placeholder]

2 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Its not getting much better, they are after the bloggers now too

 

Florida blogger registration bill ‘insane,’ Gingrich tweets

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A Republican lawmaker in Florida wants bloggers who write about elected officials to register with the state, a proposal that’s raised First Amendment concerns and the ire of GOP firebrand Newt Gingrich.

 

The bill, filed by Sen. Jason Brodeur of Lake Mary, would require bloggers to file periodic reports with the state if they are paid for posts about the state’s governor, lieutenant governor, cabinet members or legislative officials.

 

Bloggers would have to disclose who paid them and how much, along with other information such as where the post is located online. 

https://apnews.com/article/desantis-blogger-registration-media-republican-florida-07f3fa45848f351a0b2696455d0c4372

That proposal doesn't stand much chance for passage. But the one that Desantis is backing looks pretty close to a lock. If there were honest conservatives on the Supreme Court, this bill would ultimately be judged unconstitutional.  As it stand now, who knows?

[heybruce]

Don't tell them about Thailand's defamation laws, they'll want to adopt them.