Do advertisers have to tell the truth? Do newspapers, radio and television have to tell the truth? Does our constitutionally-protected right to free speech permit us to lie when using public media? Who can we trust?
I find it interesting that we have such a large variety of rules concerning "free speech" in the US.
The US Supreme court is hearing a case which could end up allowing political advertisements to lie as much as they want. However, there are already rules that require media to publish "opposing viewpoints" when not a paid ad. There is a bill in congress to allow travel companies to lie about their prices: See this article by Christopher Elliott for USA Today I hate the way the airlines are now pricing their fares, with so many add-ons --sometimes with surprises at the airport! Clearly not a fair system of competition!
However drug and medical device manufacturers must tell the truth about their products, and must provide all of the contraindications and side effects as part of their advertising. Most consumer products must also tell the truth about their products.
It seems to me that when someone uses a Government-regulated medium for communication with the public that there should be some sort of regulation concerning reasonable truth. Broadcast radio & TV are obviously candidates for that rule, but what about cable TV & internet? What about newspapers? There are many newspapers and magazines which continually lie or clearly "stretch" the truth far beyond a reasonable amount.
Google recently removed misleading ads by anti-abortion groups which tried to hook women who were looking for abortion providers into counseling. Should it be legal to post misleading ads? Or should it be legal for a media (internet, newspapers, TV & radio) to refuse to publish misleading ads? Craigslist and Google were forced to remove ads and links to advertisers of illegal drugs and prostitution. Why doesn't that violate free speech?
If the US puts restrictions on lying in the media, what is to stop those companies from lying in their advertisements on international web sites and media? Do we need international regulation and policing of media for truth? Or do we remove all regulation and let the reader, viewer or listener decide for themselves?
I find it interesting that we have such a large variety of rules concerning "free speech" in the US.
The US Supreme court is hearing a case which could end up allowing political advertisements to lie as much as they want. However, there are already rules that require media to publish "opposing viewpoints" when not a paid ad. There is a bill in congress to allow travel companies to lie about their prices: See this article by Christopher Elliott for USA Today I hate the way the airlines are now pricing their fares, with so many add-ons --sometimes with surprises at the airport! Clearly not a fair system of competition!
However drug and medical device manufacturers must tell the truth about their products, and must provide all of the contraindications and side effects as part of their advertising. Most consumer products must also tell the truth about their products.
It seems to me that when someone uses a Government-regulated medium for communication with the public that there should be some sort of regulation concerning reasonable truth. Broadcast radio & TV are obviously candidates for that rule, but what about cable TV & internet? What about newspapers? There are many newspapers and magazines which continually lie or clearly "stretch" the truth far beyond a reasonable amount.
Google recently removed misleading ads by anti-abortion groups which tried to hook women who were looking for abortion providers into counseling. Should it be legal to post misleading ads? Or should it be legal for a media (internet, newspapers, TV & radio) to refuse to publish misleading ads? Craigslist and Google were forced to remove ads and links to advertisers of illegal drugs and prostitution. Why doesn't that violate free speech?
If the US puts restrictions on lying in the media, what is to stop those companies from lying in their advertisements on international web sites and media? Do we need international regulation and policing of media for truth? Or do we remove all regulation and let the reader, viewer or listener decide for themselves?
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