Legal Definitions - false news

The term false news is a historical legal concept referring to a specific type of misdemeanor. It involved the deliberate spreading of untrue information that had the potential to cause significant public unrest or sow serious disagreement within the governing structure. The core concern of this offense was the threat such falsehoods posed to the stability and order of the realm, either by undermining trust between the monarch and their subjects, or by creating discord among powerful individuals.

Here are some examples to illustrate this historical legal term:

• Imagine a scenario in a medieval kingdom where a disgruntled former courtier deliberately spreads a rumor that the Queen has secretly diverted funds intended for famine relief to build a lavish new palace. This false information quickly circulates among the common people, leading to widespread anger, public demonstrations, and a significant erosion of trust in the monarchy's benevolence and leadership.

  This example illustrates "false news" because untrue information (the Queen diverting funds) was intentionally spread, causing significant discord and unrest between the monarch (the Queen) and the people (commoners), thereby threatening the stability of the realm.

• Consider a situation where a powerful baron, seeking to undermine a rival, fabricates and circulates letters supposedly written by the rival baron. These letters falsely claim that the rival is secretly plotting to seize lands belonging to another influential noble family. The circulation of these forged letters sparks a bitter public dispute between the two barons and their respective allies, escalating tensions and threatening to erupt into a localized conflict that could destabilize the region.

  Here, "false news" is demonstrated by the fabrication and dissemination of untrue information (the forged letters) that causes severe discord and potential conflict between important people in the realm (the two powerful barons and their allies), thereby endangering regional peace and order.