"Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions also known as the fake news have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up. The warning was the latest apparent threat from Carr, who has repeatedly attracted scrutiny for statements that appear to pressure broadcasters to conform with Trump priorities."
"This is a clear directive to provide positive war coverage or else licenses may not be renewed. This is worse than the comedian stuff, and by a lot. The stakes here are much higher. He's not talking about late night shows, he's talking about how a war is covered."
"The First Amendment doesn't allow the government to censor information about the war it's waging. Aaron Terr, the director of public advocacy at the Foundation of Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), likewise denounced Carr for seeking to silence negative war coverage."
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr warned that broadcasters spreading what he termed hoaxes and news distortions about a US war with Iran could lose their licenses during renewal proceedings. Carr stated that outlets must operate in the public interest or face consequences. This threat represents the latest in a pattern of pressure from Carr on media organizations to align with Trump administration priorities. His previous actions included pressuring ABC regarding comedian Jimmy Kimmel's critical coverage of the president. The statement drew immediate criticism from politicians and free-speech advocates who characterized it as government censorship and a violation of First Amendment protections regarding war coverage.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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