Florida must abandon its anti-free speech proposed libel laws – IOTW Report

Florida must abandon its anti-free speech proposed libel laws

A host of local conservative voices as well as Florida’s solid-red Reps. Byron Donalds and Cory Mills all think it’s a terrible idea.

[…] HB 757 and SB 1780 also undermine Florida’s anti-SLAPP protections by making it more costly for Floridians to defend themselves against frivolous defamation lawsuits brought against them for simply exercising their First Amendment rights. The bills enable a party to require a judge to hold a hearing and decide within 60 days whether the statement at issue in a defamation lawsuit is opinion or fact as well as whether it is true or false. Even if their claim is ultimately meritless, this hearing gives wealthier plaintiffs a tool to run up their SLAPP target’s legal bills and pressure them to settle rather than defend their rights. 

And from Revolver News:

[…] If you want to go after corporate media then pass a law narrowly tailored at them. This law will mean conservative influencers, podcasters and alternative media companies based in Florida are going to get WRECKED solely because they are conservative. And I mean WRECKED.

19 Comments on Florida must abandon its anti-free speech proposed libel laws

  1. Go to YouTube and search “Whatthehales$” to see this attitude in Florida in practice right now.

    It’s a long story with multiple videos but I assure you it’s a story with a 1st and 2nd amendment stealing judge, stalkers, and political and police corruption run rampant over individual rights.

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  2. Sounds like the Governor is more in favor of this than against.
    Who still thinks he the hope of the future?
    I don’t trust him as is and not immediately coming out against shows that distrust is valid.
    (wasn’t going to post here for a bit as my best friend passed unexpectedly mid week and I’m incredibly pissed but this needs saying. And yes he was fully vaccinated and looked forward to every dose)

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  3. What’s with the endless stream of attacks on our Constitutional rights? Seems it just bounces around in a spin loop going from one state to another. People who attack our rights need a hefty fine that goes up with each attack so as to put a stop to it. If we have rights then STFU and back off, these attacks should never make it into a trial or hearing.

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  4. DeSantis has a stellar record of making the right conservative decisions.
    Of that you can be sure.
    He also makes certain he has his ducks in a row before chiming in.
    No knee-jerk reaction bullshit with this man.
    He is measured and exacting.
    The hate this man gets from those that love Trump fail to realize how much like a leftist they are acting.
    MSNBC would be proud…

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  5. @ Different Tim

    Sorry about your friend passing, losing folks close to you really sucks, I know.

    I would just caution you to not believe everything that you read. The link provided clearly states that these are unconstitutional laws, flying in the face of the SCOTUS trademark case of New York times versus Sullivan. And saying that the governor is all but ready to sign them flies in the face of his pretty stellar record of standing up for free speech. This is one of those, “let’s see how it plays out before throwing stones”.

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  6. Rich, the same folks that decry TDS from others seem to suffer from DDS.
    Bizarre phenomenon.

    I always ask these clowns to show their work.
    They never do.
    “But but, DeSantis invited Jeb to his inauguration!”
    (*Jeb being a former two-term Florida governor escapes them)

    Likewise when someone donates to RDS, all of the sudden he MUST do whatever they say. MANDATORY! They OWN HIM!
    Hmmm, perhaps ask Disney how that works since they gave money to his campaigns.
    The man is principled, and stands on principle.
    Hard for them to wrap their heads around with the DDS so prevalent.

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  7. Thanks Rich for the condolences.
    My problem is I find nothing where he has come out against the bill. If someone can point me in that direction that would be great.
    But I don’t share the confidence in him some do. That’s my prerogative and keyboard insults won’t change that.
    If everyone thought the same the world would be boring. You Rich have a more reasonable approach to differences and I appreciate it.

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  8. Tim

    it’s not really the governor’s job to comment on “possible” legislation that is being “discussed” within the legislature. He has a state to run. If either of these bills make it through the process and lands on his desk, then he can comment on it in explaining why he signed it or didn’t sign it.

    The Trump versus DeSantis debate is over, Trump won, convincingly so, so now it’s our job to get behind our candidate.

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  9. I dunno. The truth is an absolute defese to defamation. Until the misguided NYTimes v Sullivan and its progeny, the “media” was subject to the same laws as we unwashed ordinary folks. Why should those with loud voices get special treatment.

    It’s easy to avoid the charge. Just don’t print shit that you can’t prove to be true as “fact”. Ask questions, state the facts you do know, provide source material, and/or state opinions with actual reasons therefore.

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  10. Also consider that years ago Florida via judge-made law made some kinds of claims, e.g. false light, harder than they are in other states.

    Also bear in mind who is objecting most loudly — big fake news.

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  11. And consider that a good potion of the bill corrects Florida’s stricter burdens re privacy violations and false light in light of our being on the precipice of “deep fake” video technology and AI.

    Read the bill; don’t just rely on the self-interested click-seeking and lazy media.

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