In Michigan, the state Rep. Matt Maddock (R) introduced a bill to register and fine fact-checkers for mistakes, per The Washington Post.
Should the bill pass into law, it results in fact-checkers having to register with Michigan’s secretary of state with evidence that they possess “a fidelity bond in the amount of no less than $1,000,000.00.”
Furthermore, if a fact-checker decides not to register with the state, they could face a $1,000 per day fine.
“Social media companies deplatform people, politicians, and businesses on the basis of ‘fact checkers’ who relish their roles punishing those whom they deem ‘false,'” Matt Maddock wrote in a Facebook post.
“My legislation will put fact-checkers on notice: Don’t be wrong, don’t be sloppy, and you better be right.”
Fact-checkers have called out Maddock and his wife, Michigan Republican Party co-Chair Meshawn Maddock for their claims regarding the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election.
There’s been some pushback on the bill; Michigan State Sen. Jeremy Moss stated that “this is an affront to the First Amendment.”
Eduardo Razo is the Assistant Content Editor for BNM, which includes writing daily news stories on the news media industry. He can be found on Twitter @eddierazo_ or you can reach him by email at eddie1991razo@gmail.com.
