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Extortion by the News Media

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  • 07-05-2017, 06:22 AM
    RizzleHizzle
    Extortion by the News Media
    My question involves criminal law for the state of: Federal and/or unknown state

    CNN made some very specific threats against a non-public figure to exact a specific behavior from them acknowledging the life threatening repercussions against them that they could cause if he doesn't keep in line with their wishes. How is this or is this not extortion?

    Could this also be a tort?

    http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/04/politi...eet/index.html
  • 07-05-2017, 06:47 AM
    llworking
    Re: Extortion
    Quote:

    Quoting RizzleHizzle
    View Post
    My question involves criminal law for the state of: Federal and/or unknown state

    CNN made some very specific threats against a non-public figure to exact a specific behavior from them acknowledging the life threatening repercussions against them that they could cause if he doesn't keep in line with their wishes. How is this or is this not extortion?

    Could this also be a tort?

    http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/04/politi...eet/index.html

    I do not see that as extortion at all. His apology came first, CNN found his name later. He was the one who begged CNN to not publish his name. That was a very gracious thing for them to do. That they chose to put a condition on it does not make it extortion.
  • 07-05-2017, 08:29 AM
    Mr. Knowitall
    Re: Extortion by the News Media
    Salon:
    Quote:

    Quoting Internet trolls say CNN is blackmailing the guy who posted a viral Donald Trump meme
    HanAssholeSolo told CNN he was nervous about his identity being revealed, which led CNN to withhold his information because “he is a private citizen who has issued an extensive statement of apology, showed his remorse by saying he has taken down all his offending posts, and because he said he is not going to repeat this ugly behavior on social media again. In addition, he said his statement could serve as an example to others not to do the same.”

    “CNN reserves the right to publish his identity should any of that change,” wrote reporter Andrew Kaczynski.

    Not surprisingly, this resulted in a wave of pseudo-outrage on the internet, culminating in the troll-y hashtag: #CNNBlackmail.

    It has also led to people claiming that CNN’s act of kindness constituted literal illegal blackmail and that the troll is a 15-year-old boy (he isn’t).

  • 07-05-2017, 08:35 AM
    qwaspolk69
    Re: Extortion by the News Media
    I don't know why people keep stating on the Internet that CNN "threatened" the guy. No one threatened him. They have the right to publish his name which they found doing their job investigating a news story. They chose not to - which is more than some outlets might have done.

    They didn't threaten this guy (not a 15 year old) nor extort him. You don't have to like CNN but they did their job and that's it.
  • 07-05-2017, 01:27 PM
    Taxing Matters
    Re: Extortion by the News Media
    Quote:

    Quoting RizzleHizzle
    View Post
    How is this or is this not extortion?

    Because in general the crime of extortion involves using physical force, the threat of physical force, or some other illegal act or the threat to use some illegal act in order to obtain money or property from the victim. Both elements must be met. There was no physical force or any other form of illegal act by CNN nor the threat to do any of those things involved here, so the first element fails and CNN was not attempting to obtain money or property from the troll, thus the second element fails too.

    Quote:

    Quoting RizzleHizzle
    View Post
    Could this also be a tort?

    No. In general torts involve a breach (either intentionally or by negligence) of a duty owed to the plaintiff or engaging in some legally recognized wrongful behavior that causes some legally recognized harm to the plaintiff. CNN owes no duty to withhold publicizing the name in the first place and it is free to offer the person the opportunity to keep his name from being revealed if he refrains from certain actions. There is nothing wrongful about any of that. Moreover, the troll has suffered no damages from it.

    Frankly, I don't understand the outrage at CNN here. If it were me, I would say go ahead and publish the name. The only way to stop trolls is to ensure they’ll be revealed. People are much less likely to post offending stuff if they know they’ll be held accountable for what they say.
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