California State Senator Dr. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) has proposed a bill, the “Online False Information Act,” that would require anyone who posts news on the Internet to verify their information through “fact-checkers.”
The bill, filed quietly in late February as SB 1424, requires all California-based websites to develop a plan to fight “fake news,” to use “fact-checkers,” and to warn readers — including via social media — of “false information.”
The bill reads as follows:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1.
Title 14.5 (commencing with Section 3085) is added to Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code, to read:
TITLE 14.5. False Information Strategic Plans
3085.
(a) Any person who operates a social media Internet Web site with physical presence in California shall develop a strategic plan to verify news stories shared on its Internet Web site.
(b) The strategic plan shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1) A plan to mitigate the spread of false information through news stories.
(2) The utilization of fact-checkers to verify news stories.
(3) Providing outreach to social media users regarding news stories containing false information.
(4) Placing a warning on a news story containing false information.
(c) As used in this section, “social media” means an electronic service or account, or electronic content, including, but not limited to, videos, still photographs, blogs, video blogs, podcasts, instant and text messages, email, online services or accounts, or Internet Web site profiles or locations.
The bill would arguably impose onerous costs on individuals and businesses alike, and would serve as a tool for censorship by subjecting dissenting opinions to review via “fact-checkers.”
It is not clear who would appoint the “fact-checkers.”
Currently, Facebook uses fact-checkers approved by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), an organization run by the Poynter Institute, which in turn is funded, in part, by George Soros’s Open Society Foundation and other liberal organizations.
Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News. He was named to Forward’s 50 “most influential” Jews in 2017. He is the co-author of How Trump Won: The Inside Story of a Revolution, which is available from Regnery. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.
This article was originally published by Breitbart.com/California
Once again, It is DEMONCRAPS who put the “JERK” in the phrase “knee-jerk-reaction” !! Pathetic. What specialty is this guy a “Dr.” in ?? Over-degreed and under-intelligent !! Yes, I know this is Kalifornia, but has anyone alerted this “Dr.” to the Constitution and the First Amendment ? (Uncensored) comment sections and critical thinking skills should make content self regulation, but again, this is Kalifornia.
Only a crap person could write this last message! Her nickname is perfect! Thanks God there had been enough messages against it! But still too many crap messages in this thread! Our society is being infected so much that we are close to other serious decadence era!
ADD in major Fake News like CNN and newspapers. May hurt circulation though, as journalism is dead, but lies sell newspapers. Much like SOME Hearings/Committees that take place on bills in session. Hard to have dialogue when current majority party controls the votes……….and Public Comment is curtailed……….
I guess “we the people” are too stupid to check for ourselves. Ridiculous. California has so many problems and the focus is on fact checking. Perhaps Pan should do some fact checking regarding the sinking ship of California
Now that they have severely infringed upon our 2nd amendment, why not go after the freedom of press. Isn’t that what tyrants do?
Anything you read or see is advertisement. To stop this from happening I’m sure the “state” of California will tax-fund a new commission/bureaucracy to insure that the fact checking “goes well”. Good salaries and pensions, too.
this idiot needs his buc-teeth knocked out– fact check his posts is what needs to be done –he is a liar and fake degree—claims he was educated yet says water is most harmful element in his vaccine rants–Trump needs to send militia to CA and jail this tripe head as well as baldy and illegals becerra and that maggot leon
Soon, no Second Amendment in California I guess.
Germany’s new law requires social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, to censor their users on behalf of the government. Social media companies are obliged to delete or block any online “criminal offenses” within 24 hours of receipt of a user complaint — regardless of whether the content is accurate or not.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/11789/germany-police-state
I can think of a way Trump could put National Guard troops around the Statehouse in Sacramento if he wanted to. I suspect so can at least some of his advisors.
1. Declare a state of emergency in California. God knows, there is one — public safety if no other.
2. Nationalize the guard from less left handed states.
3. Send an armored division or 2 rolling into Sacramento, all National guard so very much constitutional. Maybe a couple more into Los Angeles.
I don’t know how committed Trump is to wining the fight with California. But if I were president I would do it and see what happens.
We need help from somewhere and if not from Trump, then where?
Maybe Sacramento conservatives and indies will start a “Can Pan” movement.
What a refreshing idea…Since it seems to be the Democrat’s that is jumping the gun (no pun intended) write something blasting it all over, then make the corrections and apologize (if they have to) as a footnote!!! Expecting that we (deplorables) won’t check it!!!
Funny how the DEMWITS want this in place, everything they are about is ONE BIG LIE!!! The best way to tell that a scumbad Demwit it lying is you your have to watch their lips…Now we have fact checkers for demwits…All they do is lie. I am guessing right before it is signed into law, ALL DEMWITS WILL BE SPARED
Glad that this moron feels that this is the most pressing issue facing California…
Everything else is just running hunky dory, right?
This is the problem with California…the real issues get ignored while these a**wipe Democrats write stupid, feel good laws for their feeler constituents and snowflake social justice warriors who can’t think their way out of a paper sack…
And the economic headwinds continue to pile up while stupid laws like this get passed and companies say “Eff it, we’re outta here…”
And now the Denver Business Journal wrote articles that the EcoDevo folks here are aggressively courting SF tech companies to expand here and bring their social justice snowflakes with them…
Between Denver and Boulder, Colorado is being Californicated in a big way…I’m livid!!!
I tried to leave this crap and it’s following me here!!!
I pray that Trump and Sessions play hardball with Moonbeam, XBECERRA and De Leon and throws em all in jail so that some semblance of sanity can replace the current clown car of idiots running wild in Excremento…
Can you imagine who would be the “fact checkers” in California? Guv Jerry Brown and his “social justice” crew who regularly change word meanings would wreak havoc with the truth.
So easily bypassed if it passes