Have you ever suffered with fake news or passed one                 because you thought it was true?    

Probably you don't know, but this can be a crime, and we are going to talk about it now.


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Nobody likes to hear that there are false informations about themselves spread on internet. It is something wrongly common in social media, however.

For this, according to the North American 230 section, the vehicle that transports these attacks are not responsible. Therefore, the responsibility is totally for the person or group who spread it.

For those who practice it, the USA's laws says:
*1. "Whoever imparts or conveys or causes to be imparted or conveyed false information, knowing the information to be false, concerning an attempt or alleged attempt being made or to be made, to do any act which would be a crime prohibited by this chapter or chapter 97 or chapter 111 of this title shall be subject to a civil penalty of more than $1,000 which shall be recoverable in a civil action brought in the name of the United States."*

*2. "Whoever willfully and maliciously, or with reckless disregard for the safety of human life, imparts or conveys or causes to be imparted or conveyed false information, knowing the information to be false, concerning an attempt or alleged attempt being made or to be made, to do any act which would be a crime prohibited by this chapter or chapter 97 or chapter 111 of this title—shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both."*

                            From: law.cornell.edu


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In Brazil, the Penal Code provides for three configurations of crimes linked to rumors and lies, the so-called honor crimes. They are: slander, defamation and insult.

• Slander: falsely imputing a fact defined as a crime. 

Penalty: imprisonment from six months to two years and fine.

• Defamation: imputing an offensive fact to your reputation. 
Penalty: imprisonment from three months to one year and fine.

• Insult: offending dignity or decorum. 
Penalty: imprisonment of one to six months and fine.

*What about online fake news?*
Talking about this subject, it is known that Brazilian Penal Code can be applied when the topic is fake news, according to Francisco Brito Cruz, director of InternetLab, a law and technology research center

Besides these types of crime, specialists say that, depending on what is posted, it can be framed as another crimes, like racism or homophobia.

The crime can be committed not only by the person who created the false information, but also by those who spread the lie. People who spread it without knowing the truthfulness need to prove it in court.

Just to remind you, maintain yourself informed about the truthfulness of the facts you see and protect yourself, otherwise you can be a victim of fake news.

Repórter: João Vitor Brasileiro
Redigido por: Ana Lívia

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