Trump Advisor Blackburn Wants ISPs to Pull Fake News Offline Trump campaign telecom advisor and Tennessee state Representative Marsha Blackburn told CNN last week that ISPs should be required by government to pull fake news websites offline. In the wake of the election fake news has been a hot topic in large part thanks to false stories, circulated on social media for clicks, that often have only a tenuous connection to reality. Many of these websites operate overseas and therefore out of the range of many US laws.

"If anyone is putting fake news out there, the ISPs have the obligation to in some way get that off the web," Ms. Blackburn told CNN's Wolf Blitzer during Friday's "Situation Room" program. “And maybe it’s time for these information systems to look to have some type of news editor that is doing some vetting on that — whether it is the Russians, the Chinese, the Iranians or whomever. You do not want that out there because it is fake news. It is not something that is going to be correct and it’s going to end up being refuted. But it takes time, effort and energy to do that. And trying to sway and to misinform is completely inappropriate and in my opinion unethical,” she said. Blackburn didn't make clear just how the government would determine fake news from legitimate news sources, or how exactly this ISP obligation (were it to ever actually materialize) would work. There's also a debate over just what "fake news" is; it's a definition that seems to shift depending on the individual's personal beliefs. Efforts to police news production traditionally haven't fared particularly well for government (see the Fairness Doctrine). Blackburn has consistently made headlines in the broadband industry for her defense of ISP-written state laws that hamstring towns and cities from being able to build their own broadband networks (or strike public/private partnerships) even in instances where nobody else will. Her home state, Tennessee, ranks among the least broadband-connected states in the nation. »youtu.be/SkD1s4YKj9g?t=5m22s







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Most recommended from 63 comments

cahiatt

Premium Member

join:2001-03-21

Smyrna, GA 25 recommendations cahiatt Premium Member Which is it? Intervention or no intervention? "....Marsha Blackburn told CNN last week that ISPs should be required by government to pull fake news websites offline..."



Didn't these corporate bobbleheads just finish saying there should be no government control of the internet and ISPs? wkm001

join:2009-12-14 24 recommendations wkm001 Member OMG I think we can all agree Blackburn is an idiot. It is alarming she represents anyone, but if she does it is purely the misinformed.



An atheist might say, "get rid of all religious articles." There is no way to prove God's existence. This seems rather impossible, why would ISPs be responsible for filtering the internet. Ask Australia how successful they are at filtering adult content.

Dryvlyne

Far Beyond Driven

Premium Member

join:2004-08-30

Newark, OH 15 recommendations Dryvlyne Premium Member And what about Trump And all the fake news he spews via Twitter?

cabana

Department of Adjustments

Mod

join:2000-07-07

New York, NY 15 recommendations cabana Mod baa baa



First to be very clear. Could not agree more that "fake news" should be obliterated. The STAKEHOLDERS who run these sites (follow the money) should be accountable but that's a whole other discussion.



What's in danger here ... truly ... ALL news that those in power do NOT agree with can go right to well "that's fake news - remove it" ... think of the implication of that!! Legitimate news sites that shine lights under various rocks become so dangerous to operate for fear of legal action ... that the light becomes dimmer and dimmer. Government regulating our news ... do we really have to cast our gaze far to see how that looks in other countries?



There is a true shell game going on here. Under the guise of being helpful - there is NO critical thinking by those jumping on the bandwagon. How much more freedom do we need to give away in this country.



Everything under the sun is covered by the "Patriot Act" ... to keep us "safe"... Can you see a similar "Act" for ... news????



When are WE the people who read this crap going to take responsibility for what we take in to our brains. Are we not accountable in any way? Are we not able to THINK ... do we really need to be spoon fed? Is Facebook or Twitter our entire world????



Just because someone is handing free candy out on the corner ... does not mean we have to drive by and take it. Its always everyone else's problem.

That's how (imo) we got to the current state of affairs.



How many people only pay attention to issues at the time of elections but on a daily basis care ... or have time ... or even have an interest to see what the people we "hired",the people we voted in, are doing daily to manage our affairs?



From the most local level to the highest most of us have no idea what is going on ... despite our uber connected society.



More to the point ... Are we the people ... going to make sure that laws are not passed left and right on this issue with no input from us because we don't have the time or inclination to check in with our legislatures on a regular basis? Oh wait ... how would that be possible. There will be no one left reporting on them



We don't seem to look at our own behavior and take some responsibility. Do we really think that legislating our news (ironically employing the same gatekeepers that caused the issues to begin with ... ) is the best route? Are we really all just dumb sheep who need more minding?? Are more laws the answer here?? Really? And what no one seems to be discussing is the real game going on here.First to be very clear. Could not agree more that "fake news" should be obliterated. The STAKEHOLDERS who run these sites (follow the money) should be accountable but that's a whole other discussion.What's in danger here ... truly ... ALL news that those in power do NOT agree with can go right to well "that's fake news - remove it" ... think of the implication of that!! Legitimate news sites that shine lights under various rocks become so dangerous to operate for fear of legal action ... that the light becomes dimmer and dimmer. Government regulating our news ... do we really have to cast our gaze far to see how that looks in other countries?There is a true shell game going on here. Under the guise of being helpful - there is NO critical thinking by those jumping on the bandwagon. How much more freedom do we need to give away in this country.Everything under the sun is covered by the "Patriot Act" ... to keep us "safe"... Can you see a similar "Act" for ... news????When are WE the people who read this crap going to take responsibility for what we take in to our brains. Are we not accountable in any way? Are we not able to THINK ... do we really need to be spoon fed? Is Facebook or Twitter our entire world????Just because someone is handing free candy out on the corner ... does not mean we have to drive by and take it. Its always everyone else's problem.That's how (imo) we got to the current state of affairs.How many people only pay attention to issues at the time of elections but on a daily basis care ... or have time ... or even have an interest to see what the people we "hired",the people we voted in, are doing daily to manage our affairs?From the most local level to the highest most of us have no idea what is going on ... despite our uber connected society.More to the point ... Are we the people ... going to make sure that laws are not passed left and right on this issue with no input from us because we don't have the time or inclination to check in with our legislatures on a regular basis? Oh wait ... how would that be possible. There will be no one left reporting on themWe don't seem to look at our own behavior and take some responsibility. Do we really think that legislating our news (ironically employing the same gatekeepers that caused the issues to begin with ... ) is the best route? Are we really all just dumb sheep who need more minding?? Are more laws the answer here?? Really? rradina

join:2000-08-08

Chesterfield, MO 920.3 39.3

·Charter

10 recommendations rradina Member ISPs Should Be Obligated? Why do I get the feeling these folks don't truly understand what ISPs are. The suggestion that they have "editors" to monitor sites is ridiculous. Do we ever call on the post office to filter our mail? Do we want FedEx or UPS opening our shipments? Why do we currently allow and now actively call on ISPs to inspect and filter the Internet when we cannot even stop robo calls?

cpsycho

join:2008-06-03

Treadeu Land 10 recommendations cpsycho Member government control? So government controls whats fake and whats not? So who is to say the government says it does not like a story about it to be online and want to censor it. This is going to be a very bad if they go this way. Welcome to state approved news sources. Wait, China and Iran does these types of things don't they? shanghaista

join:2014-08-03

Canton, MA 8 recommendations shanghaista Member Pot Meet Kettle "You do not want that out there because it is fake news. It is not something that is going to be correct and its going to end up being refuted. But it takes time, effort and energy to do that. And trying to sway and to misinform is completely inappropriate and in my opinion unethical.



Said the Trump advisor who apparently was living under a rock the past 2 years during Trump's campaign? sandman_1

join:2011-04-23

11111 7 recommendations sandman_1 Member Free speech Yea I keep hearing this "fake news" bs from the MSM and all it amounts to is censorship. Who is the final arbiter of what is "fake"? The government? No thanks. I'd rather not have a "Ministry of Truth". Fake news has always existed and these knuckleheads are just now butt hurt over it? Get over it. macwhiz

join:2014-06-14

North Granby, CT 5 recommendations macwhiz Member Next step Obviously, the next step is to open a government office that will help ISPs determine what is fake news and what isn't. The Ministry of Truth will be happy to help you identify content that shouldn't be viewed by the general public.

maartena

Elmo

Premium Member

join:2002-05-10

Orange, CA 5 recommendations maartena Premium Member Good luck with that.... Although fake news has been a nuisance, the first amendment still applies. People may write whatever they want, whether it is in the style of satire like the Onion, or in the style of the National Enquirer. You just have to apply your common sense filter, which of course (unfortunately) not everyone has.



Trump has been a victim of fake news just like Clinton has, but before the 2016 election year Obama was the frequent victim of fake news. So much so that Fox News actually repeated several fake news stories without fact checking. Now that Trump is becoming President, he's indeed going to be the prime target for anyone creating fake news (and as such, advertising dollars for their site), and its no wonder the Trump henchmen want to act on it.



But doing so sets a dangerous, VERY dangerous precedence. You can't just ban stuff from being written just because YOU don't like it. We are a free nation with the first amendment protecting our rights from writing what the people want to write, whether it is crap gossip, fake news, or the next Stephen King novel. How do you separate real journalism from fake journalism? An opinion blog from a news site? If any legislation would pass to ban fake news, you are going towards a very slippery slope of state controlled media. The government should not have any say in what can, and cannot be written. What's next, ban Saturday Night Live as "fake news"?



It's sort of ironic that the comparison with Fascism has been made in regards to Trump, and to make and/or keep a Fascist government, one of the first things you have to do is control the media: Pull/ban publications you don't like. Vilify publications you can't control but write bad things about you. And subsequently shout so loud that the remaining media is going to want to repeat your every word. Sounds familiar, doesn't it..... jorcmg

join:2002-10-24

USA 5 recommendations jorcmg Member Fascism You are going to pull off The Onion because people are gullible.



No worries the government will tell you what to read and what to believe.

Anon5c1c0

@verizon.net 4 recommendations Anon5c1c0 Anon Dictatorship Sounds to me like trump is going to turn this country into a dictatorship, or take the next step to get this country closer to one.



Sounds also like him and his family were threatend by the same people that control the presidency, as to why he is making a 180 turn, or he was just scaming the people just to show how dumb people are. microphone

Premium Member

join:2009-04-29

Parkville, MD 4 recommendations microphone Premium Member No Way! We will never come to a consensus as to what defines a story as "fake news" For many, it will be news items that are critical of people they like and respect. It runs the risk of becoming a tool to shut down dissent regardless of its authenticity.

GlennLouEarl

3 brothers, 1 gone

Premium Member

join:2002-11-17

Richmond, VA 3 recommendations GlennLouEarl Premium Member Maybe "the govt." should do something else first... remove govt. officials--elected and not--who fake their "representation" of the citizenry. This person, for instance, clearly isn't interested in representing the interests of the people of this country. (too much of a chicken or the egg problem?) amungus

Premium Member

join:2004-11-26

America 3 recommendations amungus Premium Member Interesting Times It appeared that there had even been demonstrations to thank Big Brother for raising the chocolate ration to twenty grammes a week. And only yesterday, he reflected, it had been announced that the ration was to be reduced to twenty grammes a week. Was it possible that they could swallow that, after only twenty-four hours? Yes, they swallowed it.



This is also a priceless comment. Blackburn has consistently made headlines in the broadband industry for her defense of ISP-written state laws that hamstring towns and cities from being able to build their own broadband networks (or strike public/private partnerships) even in instances where nobody else will. Her home state, Tennessee, ranks among the least broadband-connected states in the nation. There is a lot of crap on the web these days, but do we REALLY want the gov't to become the "Ministry of Truth" online?- » www.mondopolitico.com/li ··· 4_c5.htm This is also a priceless comment. MaynardKrebs

We did it. We heaved Steve. Yipee.

Premium Member

join:2009-06-17 2 recommendations MaynardKrebs Premium Member You want a better way......?

......create a better education system for all your citizens; teach them to read, write, and spell; teach them formal logic and critical reasoning. Oh ....and don't let morons run for president.