Dan GillmorApr 18, 2023
The Murdochs have bought their way out of everything, and they've bought their way out of the Dominion suit, too. It was probably inevitable, but it's reason for disgust, too.
Show threadKevin Karhan Apr 18, 2023

@dangillmor The fact that one can buyout of cases is a problem.

Because it means that certain things are only illegal for poor people.

Show threadYai TorresApr 18, 2023

@kkarhan @dangillmor I don't know much about law, but wouldn't this still be a significant court precedent? While it's true that no one is getting convicted, they would be more exposed to it in a future case. This settlement could also encourage other parties to try to drain more money (and maybe even get a guilty verdict) out of them too.

**Updated for clarity**

Show threadBigsmiffyApr 18, 2023

@yaitorr @kkarhan @dangillmor

780 million

No non disclosure agreement. Fox admitted in the settlement statement that falsehoods were told on air

Not exactly no penalty

.

Show threadBlueDotAZApr 18, 2023
@bigsmiffy @yaitorr @kkarhan @dangillmor but what we needed was Fox forced to publicly admit to their viewers that they lied. This is just a nice payday for Dominion. Exceeding disappointed.
Show threadYai Torres
@cujobyte @bigsmiffy @kkarhan @dangillmor They will always find a way to spin the truth, especially when you consider their core audience and institutional experience doing it. In corporate America, money talks. Penalties such as those imposed have higher chances of moving the needle in favor of truth. The more money flushes down the toilet for them, the less they're incentivized to keep doing what they do.
Apr 18, 2023 at 11:56pmWeb
Show threadBlueDotAZApr 19, 2023
@yaitorr @bigsmiffy @kkarhan @dangillmor I fear this isn’t enough to move the needle. But we’ll see.
Show threadKevin Karhan Apr 19, 2023

@cujobyte @yaitorr @bigsmiffy @dangillmor actually, no.

#FoxNews isn't obligated to anything beyond ceasing and decisting in the future.

They ain't even forced to admit kowingly lying to the public - something they legally fought for to be their "right" over a decade ago!

That's not even an effective SLAPP, but a mere "don't do this again" warning.

The real winners are the lawyers cashing in a few % of the sum - like a #ClassAction.

Show threadKevin Karhan Apr 19, 2023

@cujobyte @yaitorr @bigsmiffy @dangillmor

Or as some people will point out again:

"If the penalty for wrongdoing is a payment then it's only illegal for the poor!"

Thus #classism prevails...
https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/3/21120476/jeff-bezos-washington-dc-renovate-apartment-home-parking-tickets

Jeff Bezos paid more than $16,000 in parking tickets while renovating his DC mansion

News organization WUSA9 found that people racked up more than $16,000 in parking tickets on the street outside Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ new Washington, DC mansion.

The Verge