US Government Threatens News Outlets Over Critical Coverage of Iran

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has issued a warning to news outlets that report “distortions” about the US war with Iran, stating that broadcasters must operate in the public interest or risk losing their licenses.

In a social media post on Saturday, Carr stated that broadcasters that run “hoaxes and news distortions” will be given an opportunity to correct their course before their license renewals. The warning comes as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to shape public opinion on the war.

The warning was prompted by a recent statement from President Donald Trump, who accused the “fake news media” of reporting inaccurately about US refuelling planes being struck in an Iranian attack in Saudi Arabia. Trump claimed that the base was hit but the planes were not damaged and are already back in service.

Carr’s statement has been met with swift condemnation from politicians and free-speech advocates, who argue that it amounts to censorship. Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii wrote that the warning is a clear directive for news outlets to provide positive war coverage or risk losing their licenses.

The Foundation of Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) director Aaron Terr stated that the First Amendment does not allow the government to censor information about the war being waged by the US. The administration has faced accusations of using the power of the state to penalize dissent and critical news coverage, raising concerns about press freedom.

A recent Quinnipiac poll found that 53 percent of voters oppose the military action against Iran, including 89 percent of Democrats and 60 percent of independent voters. The war has also been condemned by legal experts as a clear violation of international law.

Source: Al Jazeera