However, if Mr. Brown is a public figure, it's nearly impossible to prove defamation. This is why speculation is so rampant in the media, and there's rarely any punishment. Tabloids can print falsehoods until they're blue in the face; all they have to do is get someone to say that something is true: such as by paying them money.
For instance, I'm sure there are people on reddit calling Matt Gaetz a pedo, pervert, cheater, prostitute-user right now. They're allowed to speculate based on shit the NY Times made up.
if Mr. Brown is a public figure, it's nearly impossible to prove defamation.
Yes, in America public figures are fair game in the press. Not so much in England, however.
remove the requirement to prove intent. It's almost impossible. Only require proving harm. Otherwise it gives free reign to literally destroy entire nations and peoples entire lives with weaponize propaganda and large scale monopolized media.
strict interpretation of slander only
make slander a felony, and remove corporate protection (executes go to jail. companies dont get to hide behind "personhood" and only pay a penalty. I'll believe corporations are people when the u.s. executes them regularly for fraud).
The media would lose its fucking shit. There would go their entire business model.
Lies, slander, fraud, and defamation.
Free speech is a right. There is no right to commit fraud and slander. It's singularly whats destroying our ability to have a functioning government, and leading to riots and murder because of the campaigns the media is behind.
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