{"id":2182182,"date":"2024-02-20T16:15:01","date_gmt":"2024-02-20T21:15:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-bill-could-help-left-wing-groups-sue-conservative-media-into-oblivion\/"},"modified":"2024-02-20T16:19:57","modified_gmt":"2024-02-20T21:19:57","slug":"florida-bill-could-help-left-wing-groups-sue-conservative-media-into-oblivion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-bill-could-help-left-wing-groups-sue-conservative-media-into-oblivion\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Bill Aids Left-Wing Groups in Suing Conservative Media"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fflorida-bill-could-help-left-wing-groups-sue-conservative-media-into-oblivion%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2182182&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div class=\"article-content\">\n<h2>Proposed Florida \u2062Defamation Legislation: A Threat \u2062to Free Speech and Conservative\u2062 Media<\/h2>\n<p>Florida\u2064 is\u2062 facing \u2064a \u2063dangerous threat to free \u200bspeech and conservative media \u200cwith the proposed defamation legislation. If passed, HB 757 would make it\u200c easier for leftwing lawyers to sue conservative \u200bmedia outlets into oblivion \u2064and hinder the ability of anonymous sources to come forward with vital \u200cinformation.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2063 bill, as reported by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tallahassee.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2024\/02\/13\/conservative-media-comes-out-against-florida-defamation-legislation\/72577201007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tallahassee Democrat<\/a>, \u200bwould establish a presumption that anyone publishing a false statement based \u200con an\u200b anonymous source acted with &#8220;actual malice,&#8221; \u2064a significant\u2063 legal hurdle for\u2063 public figures in defamation lawsuits.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2-long d-flex justify-content-center\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-1973233816\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1379703300879-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-ed7dde2d6dc1dbcbdcf124673ae99033 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-ed7dde2d6dc1dbcbdcf124673ae99033\"><\/div>\n<p>At the moment, the sponsor of the\u2063 House bill, Rep. Alex Andrade, has not responded to The Federalist&#8217;s request for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Proving &#8220;actual malice&#8221; \u200dis \u200da challenging task for\u2062 public figures in libel cases.\u200d It requires demonstrating that the defendant knowingly \u2064published\u2064 false\u200c information or acted\u2062 with reckless disregard for the truth.<\/p>\n<p>If the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flsenate.gov\/Session\/Bill\/2024\/757\/?Tab=BillText\">proposed legislation<\/a> becomes law, \u2064Florida courts will be required\u2063 to conduct an evidentiary hearing to determine whether potentially libelous content is presented as a statement \u2062of fact or an opinion.<\/p>\n<p>HB \u2062757 would allow defamation lawsuits \u2063to be filed\u2062 in any county across the state for online\u200c content and in any county where the defamatory \u200cmaterial was accessed for radio or television broadcasts. \u200dThe \u2062bill also mandates \u200bthe permanent removal of\u2063 defamatory content from the \u2064internet within 10 days of notification to \u2064the publisher.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-8c39f8983739177e0e72cfc24bc43975 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-6\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-8c39f8983739177e0e72cfc24bc43975\"><\/div>\n<p>In\u2063 Florida,\u2064 libel is considered a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&#038;URL=0800-0899\/0836\/0836.html#:~:text=%E2%80%94Any%20person%20convicted%20of%20the,775.083.\">first-degree misdemeanor<\/a> punishable \u2063by fines and jail time.<\/p>\n<p>On the surface, HB 757\u2064 may seem like an opportunity for conservatives to\u200d hold legacy media accountable \u200bfor their lies and mistreatment of \u2064Republican officials. However, it could \u200chave unintended consequences. Lowering the standard\u2063 of &#8220;actual malice&#8221; could lead to more accountability, but it \u2064may also chill \u200cfree speech \u200band <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/disinformation-group-demanding-media-transparency-wont-disclose-its-own-donors\/\" title=\"Disinformation Group Demanding Media Transparency Won't Disclose Its Own Donors\">harm conservative media<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The bill creates a presumption of &#8220;actual malice&#8221; \u200bif a public figure plaintiff can prove that a published statement \u2062is false and relied on an anonymous source. This\u200b could potentially \u2063discourage truthful anonymous sourcing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-9797306776e89cf41cc492e211defa24 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-10\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-9797306776e89cf41cc492e211defa24\"><\/div>\n<p>The left has a history of using\u2063 lawfare to silence their opponents. Christians, entrepreneurs, and even \u2064our republican \u200cform of government have all been targeted through litigation.\u2063 Allowing the left&#8217;s\u200c nonprofit \u2063apparatus to exploit\u200b anonymously sourced information could tie conservative \u200cmedia in legal battles, \u2064draining their resources.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, HB 757\u2062 heavily favors\u200b well-funded plaintiffs by eliminating the requirement\u2062 for\u200d unsuccessful plaintiffs to\u200b pay the defendant&#8217;s legal\u200d costs. It also allows forum shopping,\u2062 enabling plaintiffs to choose\u200c politically \u200bfriendly venues.<\/p>\n<p>The bill \u2062is likely to\u2063 discourage anonymous sources from coming forward. In defamation suits involving public \u2064figures, courts can compel journalists\u200b and publishers to disclose the identity of anonymous sources if specific \u200dcriteria are met. Shield laws in Florida\u2062 protect journalists, but they are not \u200babsolute. \u200bIf revealing\u200b the source becomes crucial to\u200c the\u2064 plaintiff&#8217;s case, anonymity can be compromised.<\/p>\n<p>Under these circumstances, why \u200cwould a whistleblower or anonymous source risk coming forward?\u2064 HB 757 puts\u200b those fighting \u200bcorruption and injustice\u2064 at risk by\u200d jeopardizing anonymous sourcing and exposing non-legacy media to lawfare.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-c90592b16a986d3b8efb7ca99f020e9f fdrlst__b89e9-after-post-content\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-c90592b16a986d3b8efb7ca99f020e9f\"><\/div>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> In what\u2063 ways does the expanded jurisdiction for defamation lawsuits under HB \u2062757 pose a threat to conservative media outlets and potentially lead to biased outcomes<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Es\u2063 that undermine the principles \u2064of free speech and hinder the ability of media outlets to uncover the truth.<\/p>\n<p>One of the major concerns\u200c with HB 757 is its potential impact on anonymous sources. Whistleblowers, informants, and insiders play a \u200dcrucial role in exposing\u2064 corruption and wrongdoing.\u200d By\u200c establishing a presumption of &#8220;actual malice&#8221; for publishing information based on anonymous\u200c sources, this\u200b legislation would discourage\u200d individuals from coming forward with vital information. Fear\u2063 of being sued and facing legal consequences would silence potential sources, ultimately allowing misconduct and corruption to go unchecked.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the bill&#8217;s requirement for an evidentiary hearing to differentiate between statements of fact and opinion could hinder journalistic\u2062 expression. Journalism often involves \u2063the interpretation and analysis of facts, \u2063which may \u200cbe presented as opinions.\u200b By subjecting such expressions to legal scrutiny, the legislation risks\u2063 creating a chilling effect on the media&#8217;s ability \u2063to provide insight, analysis, and commentary on important issues.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, HB 757 expands the jurisdiction for defamation lawsuits, allowing\u2062 them to be filed in any county across the state for online content \u200band in any county where defamatory material was accessed for radio or television broadcasts. This\u200c provision effectively enables forum shopping, where plaintiffs can choose the \u2062most favorable \u2062jurisdiction for \u200btheir case,\u2062 potentially leading to a bias against conservative media outlets.<\/p>\n<p>The bill also mandates the permanent removal of defamatory content from the internet within 10 days of notification \u200cto the publisher. While\u2062 it is important to\u200d address false and \u200charmful information, this provision raises concerns\u2063 about censorship and\u2062 the potential abuse of power. The subjective determination of what constitutes defamatory content could be used to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/with-beijings-spies-overseas-chinese-americans-face-threats-at-home-and-abroad\/\" title=\"With Beijing\u2019s Spies Overseas, Chinese Americans Face Threats At Home And Abroad\">suppress dissenting voices<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-south-carolina-democratic-party-has-a-cocaine-trafficking-problem\/\" title=\"The South Carolina Democratic Party Has a Cocaine (Trafficking) Problem\">stifle legitimate criticism<\/a> of public figures.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the \u200cpotential to \u2062hold legacy media accountable for their actions, HB 757 poses a significant threat to free speech and conservative media outlets. By making it easier \u2064for defamation lawsuits to be filed and imposing burdensome requirements, this\u200b legislation could have a chilling effect on journalism and hinder the public&#8217;s access to important information. It is crucial to protect\u200c the principles of free speech and ensure that media \u200coutlets \u2063can continue to fulfill their vital role in our democracy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Proposed Florida defamation law aids leftwing lawyers, enabling lawsuits against conservative media. It hampers anonymous sources from sharing crucial information. HB 757, if approved, establishes a presumption that false statements using anonymous sources were made with reckless disregard for truth. Tallahassee Democrat reports this legislation&#8217;s potential consequences<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1185,"featured_media":2182183,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Gavel.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2182182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Gavel.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2182182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1185"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2182182"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2182182\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2182183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2182182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2182182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2182182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}