• fonix232@fedia.io
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    21 hours ago

    Legal liability.

    Newspapers are responsible for what they publish, as libel laws apply. Spread misinformation to millions of people and you’re in deep shit - same reason why Drumpf is going after the BBC right now. Mind you libel only applies if the person or entity committing it is of a standing people would be inclined to believe - a random passersby shouting it thus isn’t libel, but a major publicarion stating it, would be considered as libel.

    Murder specifically has a legal definition, and to be legally called a murderer, one has to be convicted of murder. Not just charged, not just sent in front of a judge, but actually convicted. Even if the evidence presented to the public prior to a trial makes it obvious beyond a doubt, legally you can’t be called a murderer until you’re convicted, therefore the act itself can’t be called murder by the media either.