Good question. In general, no. Ppl can lie. It’s a first amendment right. However, like most things, context is important - performing CPR on someone who needs/doesn’t need it. If it’s slanderous, a specific lie direct at one person involving moral turpitude etc, it’s civility /1
actionable. If we had a law preventing a news service from lying, ie. the fairness doctrine, then they can be held liable by our government. If a person lies, it may lead to no harm other than to the liar. If representatives of a large platform lie, that could lead to injury /2
or even death to a multitude. Levels of societal responsibility and context are important, even paramount. If an individual lies by yelling fire in a movie theater, then that one persons lie can carry great weight as oppose to claiming self litheness where rotundness rules the 3/
day in the bathroom mirror. Regardless, when we place people to rule over us or inform us of important decisions & events, that burden to not lie should be heavy and, if disregarded, encumbered with significant penalty. /end.
