Live data from Hacker News

What’s Facebook’s responsibility when the nation seeks to lynch someone?

pandodaily.com

21–30 of 88 posts

Re: What’s Facebook’s responsibility when the nation seeks to lynch someone?

#21

This is why Dutch publishers are prohibited to publish last names of suspects (even after conviction). In this case it would be abbreviated to "Adam L.". They even protect the identities of the most notorious killers and terrorists (Volkert van der G., Karst T., Samir A.). The US should do the same, solves a lot of problems outlined in this article.

You'd run into quite a bit of trouble with the first amendment and freedom of the press.

Re: What’s Facebook’s responsibility when the nation seeks to lynch someone?

#23

I wonder what (if any) legal recourse Ryan Lanza might have against the news agencies that libeled his name. I imagine it really depends on the exact wording used, but Ryan could have a great defamation/emotional distress case on his hands, when everything settles.

It's very difficult in the US. The argument will be he was a public figure, which would make it near impossible (actual malice) His argument will be he was a private figure, which would make it possible (negligence, though state law varies).

First person to say "he wasn't a public figure, they made him one" gets the fun job of making new law about it.

Re: What’s Facebook’s responsibility when the nation seeks to lynch someone?

#24

I wonder what (if any) legal recourse Ryan Lanza might have against the news agencies that libeled his name. I imagine it really depends on the exact wording used, but Ryan could have a great defamation/emotional distress case on his hands, when everything settles.

In the US it is very hard to win a libel case (as the plaintiff). Basically, you have to prove that the news agencies intentionally and maliciously libeled you. This is pretty darn near impossible to prove in most cases. If I recall correctly, an example of a case where a libel lawsuit would be successful is one where the new agency makes up something or encourages a source to make up something. EDITS (replies to bel…

This is not true. The standard of actual malice applies only to public figures.

Re: What’s Facebook’s responsibility when the nation seeks to lynch someone?

#25
post #21

This is why Dutch publishers are prohibited to publish last names of suspects (even after conviction). In this case it would be abbreviated to "Adam L.". They even protect the identities of the most notorious killers and terrorists (Volkert van der G., Karst T., Samir A.). The US should do the same, solves a lot of problems outlined in this article.

You'd run into quite a bit of trouble with the first amendment and freedom of the press.

How would you make that case? There are plenty of restrictions on free speech as well as freedom of the press, which is far from absolute, and is most certainly regulated.

Re: What’s Facebook’s responsibility when the nation seeks to lynch someone?

#26

The responsibility is not Facebook's, but rather the news organizations that reported early rumors and reports as facts. IANAL, but i would expect that they potentially face libel suits for defamation of character. In this situation, Facebook is merely a modern day phone book (albeit vastly more robust and complex). It is the news organization that bears the responsibility of gathering, checking and publishing verifi…

To be fair, this was not a rumor...their police sources had been mixed up because the shooter died with his brother's ID....that is the explanation, anyway...so much of this story has been contradiction after contradiction that it almost seems like someone in the police department is a 4chan troll

Re: What’s Facebook’s responsibility when the nation seeks to lynch someone?

#27

I wonder what (if any) legal recourse Ryan Lanza might have against the news agencies that libeled his name. I imagine it really depends on the exact wording used, but Ryan could have a great defamation/emotional distress case on his hands, when everything settles.

None. The news agencies claim it came from the police, who had been confused. There was no malicious intent, no gross negligence, and he is a limited public figure no matter if he was the shooter or the brother of the shooter

Re: What’s Facebook’s responsibility when the nation seeks to lynch someone?

#29

Internet Lynch Mobs: JUST SAY NO Sorry to be simplistic, but that rule is the best. If you think you need to pile on someone, don't. Our primal lizard brains just love to stomp the shit out of someone, so when society gives us signals that it's okay, we love to do it. We must resist this urge before Piggy's head get crushed by a boulder.

Here's an interesting article about recent actual lynchings in Nigeria, pretty frightening stuff: http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/10/per...

Sometimes it can be frustrating to operate within the rule of law, but the alternatives are pretty scary.

Re: What’s Facebook’s responsibility when the nation seeks to lynch someone?

#30
post #26

The responsibility is not Facebook's, but rather the news organizations that reported early rumors and reports as facts. IANAL, but i would expect that they potentially face libel suits for defamation of character. In this situation, Facebook is merely a modern day phone book (albeit vastly more robust and complex). It is the news organization that bears the responsibility of gathering, checking and publishing verifi…

To be fair, this was not a rumor...their police sources had been mixed up because the shooter died with his brother's ID....that is the explanation, anyway...so much of this story has been contradiction after contradiction that it almost seems like someone in the police department is a 4chan troll

Even if the name was 'right', it was still the news organisations getting the wrong individual with that name.
Post reply on HN