Memes and other questionable material implicate H.R.4310 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, a bill Obama signed in 2012, as making it legal for the press to lie to the American people. According to snopes.com, this was not true. Being skeptical of anything they say since they've been known to lie before (taking advantage of this bill, too, no doubt), I decided to read it myself.
Or I might add, try.
My eyes glazed over trying to slog through this lengthy bill, most of which relates to military funding and policies, but I did find a few sections that did just that. Legislative language is not always easy for someone without legal training to fully understand, particularly any implications that are purposely cloaked in legalese.
From what I understand, the Smith-Mundt Act of 1948 that followed World War II made it illegal to impose propaganda on the American people. The big caveat, however, was that doing so in other countries to preserve or possibly improve America's image was acceptable. Here is what it states in H.R. 4310, Section 1078:
(Sec. 1078) Revises provisions of the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 authorizing the Secretary of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors to provide for the preparation and dissemination of information intended for foreign audiences abroad about the United States, including about its people and policies, through press, publications, radio, motion pictures, the Internet, and other information media, including social media, and through information centers and instructors.
Authorizes the Secretary and the Board to make available in the United States motion pictures, films, video, audio, and other materials disseminated abroad pursuant to such Act, the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994, the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act, or the Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act. Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act of Fiscal Years 1986 and 1987 to remove statutory limitations on the ability of the Board and the State Department to provide information about their activities to the media, the public, or Congress. [Emphasis added.]
"Statutory limitations" could easily relate to the Smith-Mundt Act that prohibited propaganda much less overt lying.
If you're so inclined to search the bill yourself, have at it. You can find it on the government website:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/4310
If the media was granted permission to lie, this gave them license to get as creative as they wanted with news stories. The more sensational, the better has always been the case to draw readers or an audience, but now there were no limits or restrictions to assure accurate reporting.
It used to be that papers like The National Enquirer were obviously comprised of fiction. They actually paid quite well for these stories, but anyone with the intelligence of a turnip knew the majority were fake.
Now the mainstream media, that far too many people continue to trust, is in that same category.
Welcome to the world of fake news!
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