Germany’s government has threatened to pass a new law in early 2017 that would fine Facebook and other social media platforms up to €500,000 (£420,000) for publishing fake news.
“Market-dominating platforms like Facebook will be required to build a legal protection office in Germany that is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” parliamentary chair of the Social Democratic Party, Thomas Oppermann, said.
Recently, Facebook vowed to outsource fact-checking to fight fake news. The site agreed to engage with politicians and digital experts from all parties interested in the matter. The announcement states the efforts to improve the systems and address the issue of fake news and hoaxes.
Other German politicians have also joined in the action against fake news on social media sites, including Facebook. Germany’s justice minister, Heiko Maas, noted that authorities must prosecute defamation and malicious gossip, even on the internet. He pointed out that those convicted under the country’s libel law will face up to five years in jail.
European Parliament President Martin Schulz went a step further and called for EU-wide laws to address the problem.
“Fake news should become expensive for companies like Facebook if they don't stop its spread,” Schulz said. “Facebook and Co. must be more than money-making machines.”
Germany is primarily concerned with fake news influencing next year’s elections, as it may have done in the U.S.
Source: Ars Technica
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