Can Journalists Publish False Information?

Can journalists publish false information?

Pursuant to Clause 8, Article 8 of the Press Law 2016, which stipulates prohibited acts as follows:

Disseminating false information, distortion, defamation, offense to the reputation of agencies, organizations, individuals' honor, and dignity; accusing with unsubstantiated crime before a court's verdict.

Additionally, Clause 2, Article 13 of the Press Law 2016 stipulates the responsibilities of the State for the right to freedom of the press and freedom of speech in the press for citizens as follows:

The press and journalists operate within the legal framework and are protected by the State. No one is allowed to abuse the right to freedom of the press, the right to freedom of speech in the press to infringe upon the interests of the State, the lawful rights, and interests of organizations and citizens.

Thus, journalists cannot publish false information that offends the reputation of agencies, organizations, personal honor, and dignity, nor infringe upon the interests of the State, the lawful rights, and interests of organizations and citizens.

Are journalists required to correct and publicly apologize for publishing false information?

Pursuant to Point d, Clause 3, Article 25 of the Press Law 2016, which stipulates the obligations of journalists as follows:

Must correct and apologize in cases of false information, distortion, defamation, offense to the reputation of agencies, organizations, individuals' honor, and dignity.

Thus, when publishing false information, journalists must correct and apologize according to the provisions of the law.

In the above case, based on Clause 3, Article 34 of the Civil Code 2015, it is stipulated:

Information adversely affecting the honor, dignity, reputation of an individual published on any mass media must be removed, corrected on the same media. If this information is kept by agencies, organizations, or individuals, it must be destroyed.

Additionally, Clause 2, Article 34 of the Civil Code 2015 stipulates as follows:

Individuals have the right to request the Court to dismiss information that adversely affects their honor, dignity, reputation.

The protection of honor, dignity, reputation can be carried out after an individual’s death at the request of his/her spouse or adult children; in the absence of these persons, at the request of the deceased person's parents, unless otherwise provided by relevant law.

Thus, you can request the Court to dismiss false information that adversely affects your family's reputation. Additionally, you can request the journalist to publish a correction and apology on the mass media.

Respectfully!