French lawmakers ban websites that spread 'false information' on abortion
French Senators on Thursday passed a bill to ban pro-life websites from spreading "false information" about abortion, following a heated debate with rightwing lawmakers who argued it would contravene freedom of expression.
Freedom of expression is one thing, lies that go against cold hard facts and you trying to present those lies as facts is another.
"Freedom of expression should not be confused with manipulating minds," Socialist Family Minister Laurence Rossignol said as the debate kicked off last week.
The 1993 law needs to be adapted to "the digital reality", Rossignol said. "Thirty years ago militants chained themselves to abortion clinics... today their successors are continuing this fight on the web."
The bill, which now goes back to lower house of parliament for final approval, punishes attempts to indimidate women seeking an abortion by up to two years in prison and a fine of 30,000 euros ($31,900).
I salute this initiative!
Source:
http://m.france24.com/en/20161207-french-lawmakers-ban-websites-spread-false-information-abortion
#abortion #womenrights
Unfortunately lies is not the only way to manipulate minds. It is easy to say "this is a lie, you get a fine", it much more difficult to stop more subtle manipulation by the way data is presented - for example "0.1% died following the procedure" vs "thousands of people had serious problems following the procedure".
ReplyDeleteIt also downplays the role of social media - the real source of the problem, where propaganda and disinformation is scattered in little pieces by people who are basically unaccountable.
It's a shame that more countries don't take this view. The opposite seems to be happening, or will happen soon in some countries
ReplyDeleteLawmakers should not rule what is information, false information or misinformation.
ReplyDeleteThe Pandora's box is opened to define what is a good thought or what is not.
And that is totalitarianism.
you misunderstand ..
ReplyDeleteit´s not a measure of good or bad, right or wrong.
Only true fact, or not.
I find this to be, perhaps - if implemented and maintained carefully, one of the best initiatives for free speach on civil rights issues - ever.
I looked for an example of what would be considered false information in this case. I didn't find it in the article.
ReplyDeleteOf course lies are bad. But, legislating what is a lie and what isn't, is a very slippery slope.
well, the courts need to make alot of cases based upon the intent of information, but with the lawmaking france has been accustomed to this should be intricate ..
ReplyDeletemaybe even not damaging.
As a father of a boy born at 24 weeks, this is a very difficult topic, I understand that I should not interfere with other people's lives or decisions. At the same time, you can justify or explain in a thousand different ways, but based on my personal experience I will never see abortion as other than killing a human being. I also understand there are exceptional cases, but it is my personal opinion that those cases should be weighed from the point of view of a human being. Bringing it to the level of euthanasia, wich again is not a black and white choice.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter Corineua it's a life Period. Just like Trump says. It's not difficult in the least. It's gratuitous to want abortions and end people's lives. In EVERY case an individual human will be born. The propaganda otherwise is simply murdering with modernist squeamishly euphemistic rhetoric. When you see these sign holders you aren't seeing normal women. You are seeing cold blooded killers. The shock is seeing it for what it is, is from the hard propaganda trying to desensitise everyone to the killing being shattered. It's not strong wording, just the relaisation that the stupor of propaganda is wearing off.
ReplyDeletelife = sentience
ReplyDeletesentience is the ability to feel, percieve and register information - subjectively.
if every life matter so much, why agree with the dude that wants to kill the most??
and I base that on the comments on hunting down folks, up´ing the military budget, encreasing policing and border control
and - if you retort:
"That is not killing people!!" you need to learn a little thing called "consequense".
It is covered first day at philosophical studies.
Which you - toby - should have favoured over rhetoric.
which was quite well used in that comment by the way.. nice wording!
amen, simple as that...
ReplyDelete