Germany to fine sites spreading fake news

FINES OF UP TO $53.4 MILLION TO BE IMPOSED ON SOCIAL MEDIA SITES SUCH AS FACEBOOK AND TWITTER IF HATEFUL CONTENT NOT REMOVED

BERLIN: Germany’s Cabinet on Wednesday approved a new bill that punishes social networking sites if they fail to swiftly remove illegal content such as hate speech or defamatory fake news.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Cabinet agreed on rules that would impose fines of up to $53.4 million on Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms.

German Justice Minister Heiko Maas said companies offering such online platforms are responsible for removing hateful content. He said the new bill would not restrict the freedom of expression, but intervene only when criminal hatred or intentionally false news are posted.

Germany poses a particular problem for US-owned social networking sites accustomed to American standards of free speech. Due to its Nazi past, Germany bans public Holocaust denial and any overt promotion of racism. The issue has come to the fore amid the recent influx of migrants to Germany, which has sparked a backlash among some Germans including a rise in online vitriol.

Social networks need to ensure that obviously criminal content — as defined by German law — will be deleted within 24 hours and other illegal content after seven days. “Just like on the streets, there is also no room for criminal incitement on social networks,” Maas said.