This should’ve always been the case.

  • jabjoe@feddit.uk
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    3 months ago

    But what of those not elected or in public office? Farage for example. He stopped being a MEP and never has been elected or appointed since. But he is still out spouting lies.

    • ThePyroPython@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      “Under the proposals it would be a criminal offence for a member of the Senedd, or a candidate for election to the Senedd, to wilfully, or with intent to mislead, make or publish a statement that is known to be false or deceptive.”

      I think candidate for election would cover that.

      • jabjoe@feddit.uk
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        3 months ago

        It would now, but he’s just been a bloody agitant for a number of years.

    • Barbarian@sh.itjust.works
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      3 months ago

      Even if this manages to pass, it’d only apply to those currently in or candidating for the Senedd. This wouldn’t affect the UK government (and thus Farage) at all, even if he were attempting to get re-elected.

      • jabjoe@feddit.uk
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        3 months ago

        Obviously, but it’s an example of a lying agitator it wouldn’t deal with.

        • Carlo@lemmy.ca
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          3 months ago

          Maybe not directly, but if those who are running for office are held to a higher standard of truth, it’s going to reduce the sphere of influence of Farage and others like him, who deal almost exclusively in falsehoods. He won’t be able to get these people to come on his podcast, or whatever platform he has, and agree with his lies if they’re afraid of being held liable for it. He’d be pushed out of the mainstream political sphere.

          • jabjoe@feddit.uk
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            3 months ago

            I think it’s a step.

            We also need to enforce existing news laws on any media outlet that calls itself “news”.

            There is so much disinformation right now and there will probably be multiple solutions needed.