Classic case of the carrot and the stick. Freedom of the press radically changed public access to news for the good. Was it too powerful? Back when you had to own a printing press for mass consumption -- No it wasn't.
But it is now.
The demand for updates and net-new information creates markets for information. There are too many pretenders and pranksters now because there are no barriers to posting on the internet.
Until we start breaking down the anonymity of users posting data to indiviuals there will be no one to answer for bad reporting.
Punishment should be doled out via the platform posted, similar to FCC going after radio station DJ's and ultimately the broadcast network itself. This will create an underworld for news. The news underworld will need to have a few well known paragons and pranksters to bring a sense of balance and uncertainty to non-regulated news.
First step would be to introduce small fines for sites that claim their information is accurate. Classifying and identifying the obvious from NYT/WSJ from Reddit and 4chan. Once the extremes are identified, lessons learned can be applied slowly to the middle of the pack.
There's a permanent reminder above 4chan's most notorious board that "only a fool would take anything posted here as a fact." (or something along those lines).
To respond to the entirety of you ludicrous idea: No thanks.
This story is an example of why existing regulation already seems to do the job.
But it is now.
The demand for updates and net-new information creates markets for information. There are too many pretenders and pranksters now because there are no barriers to posting on the internet.
Until we start breaking down the anonymity of users posting data to indiviuals there will be no one to answer for bad reporting.
Punishment should be doled out via the platform posted, similar to FCC going after radio station DJ's and ultimately the broadcast network itself. This will create an underworld for news. The news underworld will need to have a few well known paragons and pranksters to bring a sense of balance and uncertainty to non-regulated news.
First step would be to introduce small fines for sites that claim their information is accurate. Classifying and identifying the obvious from NYT/WSJ from Reddit and 4chan. Once the extremes are identified, lessons learned can be applied slowly to the middle of the pack.