Actually, I will tell you that I am not wrong. I'm just reading the Criminal Code, and subsection 372(1) is about “false information”.
As well, subsection 298(1) reads as follows:
A defamatory libel is matter published, without lawful justification or excuse, that is likely to injure the reputation of any person by exposing him
—or her—
to hatred, contempt or ridicule, or that is designed to insult the person of or concerning whom it is published.
There are some clear pieces. By using the telephone to do such a thing, the telephone company has a liability under law to be able to find out who that person was, etc. There is some clear content in the Criminal Code.
What I'm saying is that other groups are responsible. They have to verify and be responsible for what goes on. This is really what we're asking about today, about the fact that if you're going to call something “news” or if you're going to spread false messages that harm someone.... I mean, I would never say “poor Ms. Palin”, but there you go. She's now saddled with having said the most idiotic thing, but she didn't say it. Tina Fey said it on Saturday Night Live.
I think there is responsibility on...which is where the term “false news” is coming out now, that it is in fact occurring. You can sue a newspaper. You can sue television. You can sue for any of that in the Criminal Code.
Is that going to make a level playing field? Should there be a level playing field? I'm not saying that it's my opinion one way or another. I have been asking this question. It is a confusing question for me, and I'd like to hear your take on it.
At any rate, you said it would be impossible for you to do, but it is something I wanted to put on the record—that I don't understand and am confused about it, and I wanted to have some clarification on it.
Did you have something you wanted to say?