The Guardian reports this morning that:
One of the Philippines' most prominent journalists, Maria Ressa, is facing up to six years in prison after she was found guilty on Monday of “cyber libel” charges, a verdict condemned as setting “an extraordinarily damaging precedent” for press freedoms in the region.
The case, widely seen as an attempt to muzzle the media, followed a complaint by a businessman about a story written five years earlier about his alleged ties to a then-judge in the nation's top court.
What is the significance?
First of all, for press freedom in the Philipines, which was already under threat, it is dire.
Second, for Maria Ressa, a gross injustice is being done.
Third, it's only time before right-wing thugs copy each other. How long before 'fake news libel' becomes commonplace and press freedom disappears?
Fourth, blog freedom goes as well in that case, of course.
As, fifth, does democracy.
Worry.
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All I want to hear is a multiplicity of views from various sources that enable me to understand. Some are ‘right’, some are ‘wrong’ according to what I ‘know’ at a particular time but only through a journey of enlightenment and investigation can anyone find a ‘truth’. But that only lasts until new ‘facts’ emerge.
How we can discern and decide those that are true and those that are false will be a journey that outlives my lifetime.
Wise words Mr Mayor, but too philosophical for the times in which we live.
Another step towards repression – Trump is also discussing adding antifa to the list of “terrorist” organisations. From the perspective of governments throughout the world “Power is delightful, absolute power is absolutely delightful”. For the UK, the lack of a robust constitution is of major concern. I am aware that constitutions are not a guarantee of personal liberties, but in the UK there is an elective dictatorship (not my words, but those of Lord Hailsham).
‘Third, it’s only time before right-wing thugs copy each other. How long before ‘fake news libel’ becomes commonplace and press freedom disappears?’
We already have it here, the totally unjust treatment and unjustified trial of Julian Assange.
The murder of a journalist in Malta is also a huge disincentive for good investigative journalism there, an EU and Commonwealth member.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=farS_9HLUJc
This is most certainly not fake news. It certainly wasn’t reported by the BBC as doesn’t fit with the current mood.. make sure you watch it all, it’s an eye opener
I want to see more suing of newspapers for blatantly lying. I’m sick fed up reading stuff that is just not true. What happened to holding them to account. Crowd funded class actions is what’s needed. That would sort them out.