A little bit of worthwhile elaboration from the article:
Quote:
It is proposing a ban on the broadcast of “any news that the licensee knows is false or misleading and that endangers or is likely to endanger the lives, health or safety of the public.”
The CRTC quietly posted notice of the proposed change, which is slated to go into effect on Sept. 1, on its website last week. The agency is accepting comments from the public until Feb. 9.
Michael Geist, a University of Ottawa law professor specializing in communications issues, says the proposed prohibition is far too limited.
“If we're setting a high standard that you've got to actually endanger someone's life, health or safety, frankly almost anything that's false or misleading that's obviously outside of that fairly narrow scope would be fair game,” Mr. Geist said in an interview.
For instance, he said false news that caused financial harm would not be covered by the more limited prohibition.
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As mentioned in the article, one only needs to look South to the disgraceful condition of the American 5th Estate to see the dangers inherent in this kind of change. It is
so puzzling in fact that this particular change would be made, at this particular time, that I have to wonder who is pulling the strings behind the scenes.
Wasn't there some talk of FOX News coming to Canada at some point? Hmmm....