Facebook Fake News: Germany Threatens New Law With €500,000 Fine Attached
Germany’s coalition government is threatening to bring in legislation early next year that would see Facebook and other social media firms fined up to €500,000 (£420,000) for “publishing” fake news.
“Market dominating platforms like Facebook will be legally 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 told Der Spiegel, which was translated on Deutsche Welle.
“If, after appropriate examination, Facebook does not delete the offending message within 24 hours, it should expect individual fines of up to 500,000 euros,” Oppermann said. The subject of a fake news story would be able to demand a correction published with similar prominence, he added.
Volker Kauder, a senior member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats, agreed with his colleague: “There has been only talk for too long. Now we in the coalition will take action at the beginning of next year.”
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