|
Dear John,
It’s no secret that the lies coming out of the right-wing media have been detrimental to America.
But at a time when social media companies clearly can’t be trusted to moderate themselves — and elected officials have done little to step-in — it turns out there actually might be a way to stop the harm done by Fox News, Alex Jones, and their ilk.
As our most recent video explains, defamation law may prove to be a vital weapon in the battle against the falsehoods coming out of the right-wing media ecosystem.
As a result of high-profile defamation lawsuits, Alex Jones will have to pay millions to the parents of Sandy Hook victims, Fox News might be on the hook for over a billion dollars after making bogus 2020 election claims, and Trump-allied One America News is being dropped by cable providers like an extremist hot potato.
These are just a few recent examples of how defamation law can serve as a warning to those in the media who build their business models around half-truths and exaggerations.
Now, to be clear, defamation litigation will not single handedly stop the rampant spread of misinformation taking over the airwaves and the internet. These lawsuits can take years and often end up being expensive, plus some of the media organizations peddling lies are bankrolled by radical conservatives with deep pockets.
But as our video explains, the courts might be the best avenue we have right now to take on manufactured deception and put it to rest.
Ultimately, defamation law might make companies think twice before they knowingly spread falsehoods — and help stop the vicious cycle of lies, clicks, and profits that further divides our country.
Thanks for watching,
Robert Reich
Inequality Media
|
