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MEDIA AND POLITICS
DeSantis Takes Aim At Our Right to a Free Press
Weakening defamation rules would also stifle citizen dissent
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently distanced himself from a bill requiring bloggers to register with the state and produce monthly reports on what they publish. That proposal, from a lawmaker allied with him, is much too limited for DeSantis’ ambition.
Rather, the presidential hopeful seeks to undermine established legal precedent that protects the media from unlimited defamation suits over errors committed without malice intent.
“When the media attacks me, I have a platform to fight back,” DeSantis said during a February event making defamation rules a legislative priority. “When they attack everyday citizens, these individuals don’t have the adequate recourses to fight back. In Florida, we want to stand up for the little guy against these massive media conglomerates.”
Yet his crusade has real consequences for any dissenting citizen or group — regardless of their politics. Restrictions on the press and free speech impact independent and alternative outlets, bloggers, political and religious radio hosts, YouTubers and community activists.
