On Thursday of this week, two Democratic Senators, Chuck Schumer of New York and Ben Cardin of Maryland, introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate that directly attacks free speech. Called 'the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2011,' the bill would criminalize 'misleading' or 'intentional false information' published or broadcast concerning voting eligibility and the time and place for voting, within 90 days of an election.
In introducing the bill, Cardin stated that the First Amendment protection of free speech does not include 'fraudulent' speech, according to a report issued by CNS News Service.
While the bill is aimed at preventing the disenfranchisement of voters inherent in feeding them disinformation, critics say that the law would open a Pandora's box of abuses by government that would directly infringe on the right to free speech.
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