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US newspapers are deleting old crime stories, offering subjects a 'clean slate'

theguardian.com

301–310 of 390 posts

Re: US newspapers are deleting old crime stories, offering subjects a 'clean slate'

#301

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Jacques Wallner.

I've found this claim online in only four places. Three are the "Alternative for Sweden" website, Samnytt, and Fria Tider. None are reliable sources (one's a political party of bigots, one's a tabloid that's been "sued multiple times for libel", and the third "anses ha ett uppenbart rasistiskt, främlingsfientligt och islamofobiskt innehåll" (quotations from Wikipedia)). I wrote this, before I looked up the names of t…

Bro has friends in high places bro that's why there's no evidence

Does the victim have a name, or was that memory holed too?

Re: US newspapers are deleting old crime stories, offering subjects a 'clean slate'

#302
post #177

IRL I knew someone who was charged with child sexual abuse. He went to prison awaiting trial, but the prosecution dropped the charges before it got there. He was released and went about his life. Meanwhile his mug shot photo in the local paper was the number one google search result for his name. And then it reached syndication for other news sites as well. Ideally those news paper articles should be updated to say t…

I think libel laws should be updated, so entities are compelled to correct the record when requested. News media have gotten away with publishing "well we thought it was true at the time" (or "we didn't say it, we said someone else said it") for too long.

One could argue that a newspaper is continuously publishing something on its website. And therefore it has a duty to keep any archives it keeps available to the public updated.

Obviously that might just lead to most publications deleting all their archives...

Re: US newspapers are deleting old crime stories, offering subjects a 'clean slate'

#303
post #177

IRL I knew someone who was charged with child sexual abuse. He went to prison awaiting trial, but the prosecution dropped the charges before it got there. He was released and went about his life. Meanwhile his mug shot photo in the local paper was the number one google search result for his name. And then it reached syndication for other news sites as well. Ideally those news paper articles should be updated to say t…

I knew someone charged with having large amounts of CSAM. He was also named in local media before conviction, although you really had to go looking for it to find it.

More importantly perhaps, he was a scout leader and his scout group were informed, I believe by the police, as early as the investigation began - i.e. before being charged, let alone convicted.

Given the topic of the investigation, as much as I think people not yet convicted should be treated as innocent, I also think the public has a right to protections in cases where there is a plausible threat. In this case regardless of his guilt, there was a plausible threat to children under his care.

The problem is that if you tell a scout group you're telling the parents, and it only takes one to make a stink about it for it to spread. Sadly, although perhaps expectedly, the nuance of plausible threat vs conviction is often lost in times like this.

Re: US newspapers are deleting old crime stories, offering subjects a 'clean slate'

#304
post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Before things like the FBI and the telegraph it was quite common for Americans to find a new life in another state. You could be married in New York but nobody in Montana would know unless they actively started an investigation. The world has become a village.

True story: In the late 70's my Uncle had a run of bad luck and a dubious business partner basically sink him financially. After some discussion, he made a plan. It was simple: Uncle goes back to Virginia to lay low in one of the back hollers. My mom gets his mail, due to him living with us for a while[1], and writes "Deceased" on it, and "Return to Sender" 5 years pass. Maybe 4, I can't remember. Uncle shows up, eve…

Why did he feel he had to run? Did he owe people money?

Re: US newspapers are deleting old crime stories, offering subjects a 'clean slate'

#305
post #176
post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Again I don't know the scope of US mandatory deposit. But in the countries such as the UK, the Scandinavian countries, or Germany tall issues of such a newspaper would already be in the archive of the national library, in two copies.

Basically, as I understand it, there is none. If you want to collect copyright infringement damages, you have to register for copyright, pay, and deposit a copy. Otherwise you have a copyright on creation and don't need to deposit anything. The vast majority of created works are not deposited anywhere.

[deleted]

Re: US newspapers are deleting old crime stories, offering subjects a 'clean slate'

#306
post #265

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or they should just report newsworthy public items in an unbiased way and let people decide

Deciding on the accuracy of claims is difficult. We have complicated and lengthy judicial processes that attempt this, and they still make frequent mistakes. Saying it’s okay to defame people with an “allegedly” disclaimer and relying on the public to somehow do what even our courts cannot, is willfully ignorant. Publishing an allegation should be legally equivalent to making an allegation.

Is it accurate that this person is being tried for a crime? Did the prosecutor state which crime they were convicted of? Then report on that.

That's not defamation. Stop trying to have newspapers make editorial judgements. Just report the facts.

Re: US newspapers are deleting old crime stories, offering subjects a 'clean slate'

#307
post #165

This whole criminal record piece of shit is a crime on its own. I believe that records of people who served their time or just have been arrested/carded and then let free must be sealed and not accessible to general employers. Some obvious exceptions can apply but generally people should not be penalized for what they've been penalized already.

Employers would need then to not be liable for the actions of their employees.

Are they now? I see no reason why they should as long as it does not fall under special exception list. Like pedos working in kindergarten. But attempt to hire those would raise that special exception flag anyways.

Re: US newspapers are deleting old crime stories, offering subjects a 'clean slate'

#308

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Jacques Wallner.

I've found this claim online in only four places. Three are the "Alternative for Sweden" website, Samnytt, and Fria Tider. None are reliable sources (one's a political party of bigots, one's a tabloid that's been "sued multiple times for libel", and the third "anses ha ett uppenbart rasistiskt, främlingsfientligt och islamofobiskt innehåll" (quotations from Wikipedia)). I wrote this, before I looked up the names of t…

If it's not true, it serves as a good example of why journalists should report on all alleged crimes without hiding information from the public: when you have a system where people know that certain allegations will not be reported for privacy, or preserving the peace, or any other reason, it creates a situation where a random baseless accusation appears to have as much public evidence behind it as a true accusation might.

Re: US newspapers are deleting old crime stories, offering subjects a 'clean slate'

#309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think libel laws should be updated, so entities are compelled to correct the record when requested. News media have gotten away with publishing "well we thought it was true at the time" (or "we didn't say it, we said someone else said it") for too long.

Publishing the name of a suspect should generally not be tolerated. Particularly in the case of mass shootings or general terrorism. Unless the person is a politician or an active danger, no good comes from publishing their name. In the case they are guilty, you are giving notoriety which encourages copycats. In the case they are innocent, you've seriously harmed the reputation of an innocent person. The only reason…

> Unless the person is a politician or an active danger, no good comes from publishing their name

What do you think of the case in my comment, tldr: suspected CSAM offences by a scout group leader. I think it was right that the scout group were notified so he could be suspended... but that is only a very small step from publishing the name, unless you put recipients under NDA and/or criminalise further publicity.

I'm honestly fairly conflicted overall. Obviously the malicious publication we see in general is bad, but I'm not sure where the line is.

Re: US newspapers are deleting old crime stories, offering subjects a 'clean slate'

#310

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've found this claim online in only four places. Three are the "Alternative for Sweden" website, Samnytt, and Fria Tider. None are reliable sources (one's a political party of bigots, one's a tabloid that's been "sued multiple times for libel", and the third "anses ha ett uppenbart rasistiskt, främlingsfientligt och islamofobiskt innehåll" (quotations from Wikipedia)). I wrote this, before I looked up the names of t…

Bro has friends in high places bro that's why there's no evidence Does the victim have a name, or was that memory holed too?

"Magnus Nordenmark" is the name used by the tabloids. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/250492078/sven-magnus-no... has the right date of death, and gives a grave site of plot SO 33 5756 in Solna Cemetery, Stockholm. (I don't know how to verify this without actually visiting the cemetery.)

You could have looked this up yourself.

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