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Those who spread fake news through the social media are also liable under the proposed bill. Flickr photo by Stanley Cabigas (CC BY 2.0)

Philippine Senator Joel Villanueva filed a billin late June that would criminalize the malicious distribution of false news. Media groups are warning it could lead to censorship.

Villanuevas Senate Bill No. 1492 or An Act Penalizing the Malicious Distribution of False News and Other Related Violations defines fake news as those which either intend to cause panic, division, chaos, violence, and hate, or those which exhibit a propaganda to blacken or discredit one's reputation.

The billassigns penalties to those who publish fake news and even to those who share it, potentially criminalizing social media users who may not fully understand the implications of simply sharing an articlewith friends.

Prison sentencing under the proposed law depends on the status of the entity who publishes or spreads the so-called fake news. A private individual found guilty of publishing or spreading fake news can face a prison term of up to five years. Agovernment official's sentence would be double that of a private individual. And a media entity or social media platform spreading fake news could be detained for up to 20 years.

Villanueva explained the rationalebehind these penalties:

The effect of fake news should not be taken lightly. Fake news creates impression and beliefs based on false premises leading to division, misunderstanding and further exacerbating otherwise strenuous relations.

He added that the passage of the bill will encourage our citizens, especially public officers, to be more responsible and circumspect in creating, distributing and/or sharing news.

Journalism Professor Danilo Arao reviewed the four-page bill and summarized his objections:

Definition of false news or information under Sec. 2 is so broad that it includes practically anything perceived to cause, among others, panic and hate (obviously hard to define)

Media organizations could be subjected to censorship under Sec. 3 of the proposed law because even fair commentary or investigative reports that are perceived to tarnish the reputation of a public official could be flagged as false news.

Arao further disputed theneed for a special law mentioning public officials, reasoning that they are already assumed to be following a code of conduct.

In a TV interview, a spokesperson fromthe Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility said the proposed legislation is unnecessary because Philippine libel law already addresses the issues raised by the senator.

A member of the House of Representatives proposed that instead of criminalizing fake news, the congress should work to approve a pending Freedom of Information bill that he says would helpcounter the irresponsible sharing of false information on media and the Internet.

AlterMidya, a network of independent media groups, denounced Villanuevas bill as irresponsible, unnecessary and dangerous attempt to impose a form of censorship on free expression and press freedom.

How does one distinguish between a false report based on an honest mistake and one maliciously spread through print, broadcasting and online?

It would endow the bureaucracy with the arbitrary power to declare any media issuance contrary to government interests as fake news, while approving, loudly or otherwise, even the most fraudulent report from either private or State media so long as it favors whatever regime is in power.

Veteran journalist Luis Teodoro reminded the senator that there are better ways to fight fake news:

Accountability in the exercise of the right to communicate is best enforced, not by the State, but by the media community itself as well as by a public media-literate and responsible enough to detect and not to spread fake news.

Philippine Star newspaper columnist Jarius Bondoc warned that if the bill becomeslaw, it could be abused by authorities who want to silence critics:

The bill is prone to abuse. A bigot administration can apply it to suppress the opposition. By prosecuting critics as news fakers, the government can stifle legitimate dissent. Whistleblowers, not the grafters, would be imprisoned and fined for daring to talk. Investigative journalists would cram the jails.

This is not the first time that a Philippine legislator has filed a bill that seeks to address the negative impact of fake news. Early this year, the Speaker of the House of Representatives proposedregulatingsocial media to prevent the spread of fake accounts and fake information.

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Philippine Senator Moves to Criminalize 'Fake News' Could This ... - Global Voices Online

Startup of the week:

Who they are: IranCubator

What they do:Its atech incubator that producesapps focused on achieving social change in Iran, backed by Berkeley-based nonprofit United for Iran.

Why its cool:Launchedthree years ago, IranCubator matches activists with app developers to create technology that can change the lives of Iranian citizens. The program has launched a series of apps in recent months, including womens health app Hamdam. Geared toward women who dont have access to sexual health resources women from conservative families or from rural areas, for example Hamdam provides information on sexually transmitted diseases and contraception, and also offers the only Persian menstruation calendar, according to United for Iran founder and executive director Firuzeh Mahmoudi. And Hamdam offers resources to help women who often arent granted the same legal protections as men answer questions on marriage law, divorce, employment and more.

Another IranCubator app, RadiTo, lets Iranians listen to news programs blocked by the government, such as BBC Persian, as well as audio books and talk shows. Thats crucial in a country that has a reputation as being one of the worlds most restrictive regimes when it comes to accessing information Reporters Without Borders this year ranked Iran 165th out of 180 countries initsWorld Press Freedom Index.

IranCubator also released an appcalled Haami thats geared toward Irans 2.2 million drug users offeringrecovery resources including Narcotics Anonymous information translated into Persian and a personal safety app called Toranj that helps women defend against domestic violence.

To learn more visit United4Iran.org.

Where they stand: Womens health appHamdam, the incubators most popular app, has been downloaded more than 70,000 times since its launch in March.

Only in Silicon Valley:

Bummed out by shoes that dont fit?Iovado promises to fix that problem by combining Silicon Valley technologywithItalian fashion. Customers use the companys app to take 10 pictures of their foot, which Iovado converts into a 3D model. That model is then sent to leather workers in Italy who use it to make a pair of handcrafted shoes built exactly to your specifications. The whole process costs 240 Euros, or about $274.

Iovado had raised almost $65,000 on Kickstarter as of Thursday, surpassing its goal of $22,678.

Run the numbers:

When considering whether to invest in a startup, venture capitalists question female founders differently than male founders, according to a recent study published in the Harvard Business Review. Investors are more likely to ask men about their potential for gains, and women about their potential for losses, according to researchers from Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania, who analyzed interactions between 140 VCs and 189 entrepreneurs at TechCrunch Disrupt New York.

Sixty-seven percent of questions posed to male founders had to do with promotion focusing on hopes, achievements, advancement and ideals, according to the study. On the other hand, 66 percent of questions asked of female founders had to do with prevention they focused on safety, responsibility, security and vigilance. For example, VCs were more likely to ask men how they will acquire new customers, and ask women how they will prevent current customers from leaving.

Those lines of questioning make a difference, the researchers argue. The male-led startups they studied raised five times more funding than those led by women.

Click here:

Following a string of female startup founders who have spoken out about sexual harassment they faced from male investors, entrepreneur Perri Chase this week addressedthe more subtle nuances of the investor/founder relationship. In a blog post titled I had sex with an investor & I am sorry, Chase described a meeting over drinks with an angel investor she hoped would back her startup. Whenhe started hitting on her, Chase wrote, it became clear that he hadnt intended theinteraction to be a pitch meeting. She says she made a consensual choice to reciprocate his advances.

In all that has been emerging this week it dawned on me that I gave him permission to act this way, Chase wrote. My sleeping with him is actually part of the problem.

But its complicated, Chase wrote, adding that in a world where its common to meet investors over happy hour, the line between professional and social interactions can become blurred, and clarifying it needs to become a priority.

Photo: A screen shot from the United for Iran website.

Tags: 500 startups, App, Iran, sexual harassment, startup

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Early Stage: Using apps to fight censorship, drug addiction and sexism in Iran - SiliconBeat

Wall Street Journal (subscription)

Deutsche Telekom Considers Shaking Up Media Operations Wall Street Journal (subscription) The workshop was part of a larger effort, dubbed Project Tetris, to align the company's media operations with a quickly changing media strategy, including spending more with companies like Facebook FB 1.58% and Google and exerting greater control ... and more »

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Deutsche Telekom Considers Shaking Up Media Operations - Wall Street Journal (subscription)

Social media influencers tend to be popular and loved by their fans, they also receive backlash and criticism from online bullies, or "keyboard warriors".

The increasing popularity of social media and the never ending platforms available today are a risk to teens and young adults, warn UAE health experts.

Naser Al Riyami, Emirati psychologist and hypnotherapist, told Khaleej Times that psychologists are witnessing a link between social media addicts and signs of depression. "A lot of today's social media influencers feel dependent on their media platforms, and often find themselves being compared to others. If you start comparing yourself to others, especially in terms of appearance and lifestyle, then you need to take time off and reassess yourself, because this is unhealthy for the mind and body."

He pointed out that the link between social media addiction and depression is not necessarily only coming from a psychological point of view, but also from a physiological view. "There is no doubt that one can develop a lot of ergonomic injuries, and once these injuries occur, they could lead to low energy, mood swings, feeling down and isolated."

Moreover, he noted that though social media influencers tend to be popular and loved by their fans, they also receive backlash and criticism from online bullies, or "keyboard warriors". "Just like a child being bullied on a school field, social media is also a field where you'll find those that try to lift your energy and those who want to bring you down. There are also those who attempt to blackmail or scam people, and this can cause a great deal of anxiety and stress."

Dr Dolly Habbal, clinical psychologist at Universal Hospital, said social media addiction has become a serious problem in society. "Both psychiatrists and psychologists report that there is a close relationship between social media and depression since it is becoming a major means of communication. The addiction leads to social withdrawal, as users are preoccupied with spending their time on self-entertainment and defusing their daily activities."

Dr Habbal pointed out that engaging in social media at night can also trigger depression, as it disrupts sleep. She also added that social media should not lead users to focus on others more than themselves. "It becomes unhealthy if we are affected by other people's accomplishments, and start comparing ourselves to them."

Comparing oneself to others could lead to destructive emotions, such as increased anxiety and low self-esteem.

"Social media presents us with a distorted version of reality. Many can take advantage of us by giving distorted images of themselves. This is a game we can never win."

Improper use of social media can be a burden

"Social media has affected my perception on my life, and myself," said a 27-year-old Instagram user and blogger, living in Dubai. "I have almost 25,000 followers, and although that might seem ant-size to the big names out there, it can still be a heavy burden. My followers depend on me and expect me to post pictures and videos daily."

She admitted to heavily using social media, to a point where it has made her "feel unhealthy and depressed". "I found myself comparing how I look, dress, and even my body type to other popular influencers, and this really brought me down emotionally. But then I am reminded that life on social media is not real life at all, and that a majority of what our viewers are viewing is in fact an act - a picture of what we hope an idealistic life would look like."

With over 70,000 followers on Instagram, Mohamed Al Khalili said he does not allow his social media status to control him, nor his life. "It's vital that I allow myself to have a break from time to time from Instagram. Sometimes I disappear for a week," said the 26-year-old social media executive at Havas, whose Instagram account goes by the name '7amooch'.

"You need to ensure that you are controlling your platforms, not allowing your platforms to control you," added Al Khalili, who has been living in the UAE for 24 years. Al Khalili pointed out that instead of taking the dark path of what social media might offer, bloggers and followers should use the platform to better themselves, their health and state of mind.

"I use social media to express my real character, I don't compare myself to others, I am my own character and I am happy with that. It's crucial for influencers and bloggers to understand that the public want to see their true and genuine self, and should therefore not mimic what others do.

"Focus on yourself, build on your own content and see what matches your lifestyle. Use social media as a way of self-motivation. I can easily leave my phone and get on with life. I don't let it affect me because I have a career, family and friends surrounding me and these are my top responsibilities."

He highlighted that social media can thus be used in a positive manner, particularly if users limit their time spent on it. "At the end of the day, people are following a real person, not a fictional character."

jasmine@khaleejtimes.com

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Social media addiction can lead to depression, warn experts - Khaleej Times

When President Trump shakes people's hands, the world is watching. Here's why. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

The White House allowed Russia to shape early impressions of Friday's meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin but responded quickly with its own account of the session that cast Trump as the aggressor who led off by expressingconcerns about election meddling.

Putin got his version of events out first, telling Russian state media outlets that he and Trump discussed a lot ofissues such asUkraine, Syria, other problems, some bilateral issues.

We again returned tothe issues offighting terrorism and cybersecurity, Putin said.

Omitting any mention of a conversation about political interference, Putin raised the possibility that Trump hadn't brought it up during their two-hour sit-down on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Hamburg.

But the White House did not allow that notion to hang in the air for long. Press secretary Sean Spicer gathered reporters for a news conference at which Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who was in the room, said Trump made meddling the first topic and that he and Putin had a very robust and lengthy exchange on the subject.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov then told reporters that Trump accepted Putin's assurance that Russia did not interfere in the election. An unnamed senior administration officialfollowed up by telling CNN that Trump did no such thing.

This is the messaging game. At least the White House came to play. It was not clear before the meeting that it would.

The following Associated Press report crossed the wire early Friday morning:

The Kremlin says that President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump have exchanged a handshake and a few words ahead of their sit-down at the G-20 summit.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Putin and Trump shook hands and told each other that they will shortly have a separate meeting.

Note the source. The Kremlin, not the White House, notified reporters of the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Putin ahead of their sit-down later in the day. A video posted online by the German government, which is hosting the Group of 20 summit, confirmed that Trump and Putin did indeed shake hands and exchange pleasantries.

A handshake is a pretty mundane event. There is not much opportunity for propaganda or even subtle spin in such a simple gesture. But as U.S. journalists try to learn as much as possible about the more significant interactions between Trump and Putin, it matters a great deal whether the White House or the Kremlin supplies information.

Because reporters did not witness the presidents' talks firsthand, they have to rely on the accounts of the American and Russian officials in the room. In the past, the Russian side has been more forthcoming.

Recall that the White House's official readout of a May 10 meeting between Trump and Lavrov in the Oval Office neglected to mentiontheinclusion of Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak. American journalists found out about his participation through photos released by Russian state media the only media permitted to document the session.

When Tillerson traveled to Moscow in April, American reporters learned about a previously unscheduled meeting with Putin from the Kremlin. After allowing U.S. journalists to accompany him to a meeting with Lavrov, Tillerson ditched the reporters before meeting Putin at the Kremlin.

At one point during Tillerson's trip, Lavrov told reporters that the United States and Russia had agreed that the United Nations should investigate the use of chemical weapons in Syria a false claim that suggested that the administration was less than certain about whether Syrian President Bashar al-Assad did, in fact, deploy chemical weapons against his own citizens.

Russia, a Syrian ally, wanted to signal to the world that the United States had some doubts about Assad's guilt.

AState Department that regularly engages with reporters might have set the record straight immediately. Instead, 1 hour and 43 minutes passed between the AP's initial report of Lavrov's claim and a follow-up report featuring an on-the-record denial from a Tillerson spokesman.

The White House moved faster Friday.

This post has been updated.

Link:
The White House got in the game after Russia took charge of the Trump-Putin narrative - Washington Post