USApedia

Disinformation Governance Board: Difference between revisions

Page Discussion

Disinformation Governance Board (view source)

Revision as of 00:20, 8 February 2025

57 bytes removed ,  8 February
m
Text replacement - "Associated Press" to "Associated Press"
VisualWikitext
m (Text replacement - "The New York Times" to "The New York Times")
m (Text replacement - "Associated Press" to "Associated Press")
 
(2 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 33: Line 33:
| website        = {{URL|https://dhs.gov/publication/disinformation-governance-board}}
| website        = {{URL|https://dhs.gov/publication/disinformation-governance-board}}
}}
}}
The '''Disinformation Governance Board''' ('''DGB''') was an [[advisory board]] of the [[United States Department of Homeland Security]] (DHS), from April 27, 2022 to August 24, 2022. The board's stated function was to protect national security by disseminating guidance to DHS agencies on combating [[misinformation]], [[malinformation]], and [[disinformation]] that threatens the security of the homeland. Specific problem areas mentioned by the DHS included false information propagated by [[Coyote (person)|human smugglers]] encouraging migrants to surge to the [[Mexico–United States border]], as well as Russian-state disinformation on election interference and the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref name="Seitz">{{cite news |last=Seitz |first=Amanda |date=28 April 2022 |title=Disinformation board to tackle Russia, migrant smugglers |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-immigration-media-europe-misinformation-4e873389889bb1d9e2ad8659d9975e9d |work=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=28 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="NYT" /><ref name="dgb-pause"/>
The '''Disinformation Governance Board''' ('''DGB''') was an [[advisory board]] of the [[United States Department of Homeland Security]] (DHS), from April 27, 2022 to August 24, 2022. The board's stated function was to protect national security by disseminating guidance to DHS agencies on combating [[misinformation]], [[malinformation]], and [[disinformation]] that threatens the security of the homeland. Specific problem areas mentioned by the DHS included false information propagated by [[Coyote (person)|human smugglers]] encouraging migrants to surge to the [[Mexico–United States border]], as well as Russian-state disinformation on election interference and the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref name="Seitz">{{cite news |last=Seitz |first=Amanda |date=28 April 2022 |title=Disinformation board to tackle Russia, migrant smugglers |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-immigration-media-europe-misinformation-4e873389889bb1d9e2ad8659d9975e9d |work=Associated Press|access-date=28 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="NYT" /><ref name="dgb-pause"/>


On May 18, 2022, the board and its working groups were "paused" pending review, after constitutional issues were raised. Board head [[Nina Jankowicz]] resigned as result of public backlash.<ref name="dgb-pause">{{cite news|title=How the Biden administration let right-wing attacks derail its disinformation efforts|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/05/18/disinformation-board-dhs-nina-jankowicz/|first=Taylor|last=Lorenz|date=May 18, 2022|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 18, 2022|author-link=Taylor Lorenz}}</ref><ref name="Hart-Intelligencer">{{cite web |last1=Hart |first1=Benjamin |title=Poorly Conceived Biden Disinformation Board Put on Pause |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/05/poorly-conceived-biden-disinformation-board-put-on-pause.html |website=[[Intelligencer (website)|Intelligencer]] |publisher=[[New York Magazine]] |language=en-us |date=18 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.fox19.com/2022/05/18/ap-sources-dhs-will-pause-disinformation-board/ |title= New 'disinformation' board paused amid free speech questions |website=Fox19 Now |date=May 19, 2022 |access-date=May 19, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Reason-18-05-22" /> On August 24, 2022, Department of Homeland Security Secretary [[Alejandro Mayorkas]] disbanded the board.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sands |first=Geneva |date=August 25, 2022 |title=DHS shuts down disinformation board months after its efforts were paused |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/24/politics/dhs-disinformation-board-shut-down/index.html |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref>
On May 18, 2022, the board and its working groups were "paused" pending review, after constitutional issues were raised. Board head [[Nina Jankowicz]] resigned as result of public backlash.<ref name="dgb-pause">{{cite news|title=How the Biden administration let right-wing attacks derail its disinformation efforts|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/05/18/disinformation-board-dhs-nina-jankowicz/|first=Taylor|last=Lorenz|date=May 18, 2022|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 18, 2022|author-link=Taylor Lorenz}}</ref><ref name="Hart-Intelligencer">{{cite web |last1=Hart |first1=Benjamin |title=Poorly Conceived Biden Disinformation Board Put on Pause |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/05/poorly-conceived-biden-disinformation-board-put-on-pause.html |website=[[Intelligencer (website)|Intelligencer]] |publisher=[[New York Magazine]] |language=en-us |date=18 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.fox19.com/2022/05/18/ap-sources-dhs-will-pause-disinformation-board/ |title= New 'disinformation' board paused amid free speech questions |website=Fox19 Now |date=May 19, 2022 |access-date=May 19, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Reason-18-05-22" /> On August 24, 2022, Department of Homeland Security Secretary [[Alejandro Mayorkas]] disbanded the board.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sands |first=Geneva |date=August 25, 2022 |title=DHS shuts down disinformation board months after its efforts were paused |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/24/politics/dhs-disinformation-board-shut-down/index.html |website=CNN}}</ref>


==Background==
==Background==
Line 43: Line 43:


==Function==
==Function==
[[Alejandro Mayorkas]], the [[United States Secretary of Homeland Security|Secretary of Homeland Security]], stated that the board would have no operational authority or capability but would collect [[best practice]]s for dissemination to DHS organizations already tasked with defending against disinformation threats,<ref name="Hooper">{{cite news |last=Hooper |first=Kelly |date=1 May 2022 |title=Mayorkas cites misinformation about Homeland Security's disinformation board |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/01/mayorkas-defends-dhs-disinformation-board-00029182 |work=[[Politico]] |access-date=3 May 2022}}</ref> and asserted the board would not monitor American citizens.<ref name="MayorkasCNN">{{cite AV media |title=Mayorkas: Disinformation board won't monitor American citizens |url=https://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2022/05/01/mayorkas-on-disinformation-board.cnn |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=May 1, 2022 |access-date= May 2, 2022}}</ref> John Cohen, the former acting head of the intelligence branch of the DHS, said that the board would study policy questions, best practices, and academic research on disinformation, and then submit guidance to the DHS secretary on how different DHS agencies should conduct analysis of online content.<ref name="NYT" />
[[Alejandro Mayorkas]], the [[United States Secretary of Homeland Security|Secretary of Homeland Security]], stated that the board would have no operational authority or capability but would collect [[best practice]]s for dissemination to DHS organizations already tasked with defending against disinformation threats,<ref name="Hooper">{{cite news |last=Hooper |first=Kelly |date=1 May 2022 |title=Mayorkas cites misinformation about Homeland Security's disinformation board |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/01/mayorkas-defends-dhs-disinformation-board-00029182 |work=[[Politico]] |access-date=3 May 2022}}</ref> and asserted the board would not monitor American citizens.<ref name="MayorkasCNN">{{cite AV media |title=Mayorkas: Disinformation board won't monitor American citizens |url=https://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2022/05/01/mayorkas-on-disinformation-board.cnn |publisher=CNN |date=May 1, 2022 |access-date= May 2, 2022}}</ref> John Cohen, the former acting head of the intelligence branch of the DHS, said that the board would study policy questions, best practices, and academic research on disinformation, and then submit guidance to the DHS secretary on how different DHS agencies should conduct analysis of online content.<ref name="NYT" />


On May 2, 2022, the DHS released a statement which said that the board would monitor disinformation spread by "foreign states such as Russia, China, and Iran" and "transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling organizations", and disinformation spread during [[natural disaster]]s (listing as an example misinformation spread about the safety of drinking water during [[Hurricane Sandy]]). The DHS added that "The Department is deeply committed to doing all of its work in a way that protects Americans' freedom of speech, civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy."<ref name="NYT"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Fact Sheet: DHS Internal Working Group Protects Free Speech and Other Fundamental Rights When Addressing Disinformation That Threatens the Security of the United States |url=https://www.dhs.gov/news/2022/05/02/fact-sheet-dhs-internal-working-group-protects-free-speech-other-fundamental-rights |website=dhs.gov |publisher=[[United States Department of Homeland Security]] |date=2 May 2022 |access-date=3 May 2022}}</ref>
On May 2, 2022, the DHS released a statement which said that the board would monitor disinformation spread by "foreign states such as Russia, China, and Iran" and "transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling organizations", and disinformation spread during [[natural disaster]]s (listing as an example misinformation spread about the safety of drinking water during [[Hurricane Sandy]]). The DHS added that "The Department is deeply committed to doing all of its work in a way that protects Americans' freedom of speech, civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy."<ref name="NYT"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Fact Sheet: DHS Internal Working Group Protects Free Speech and Other Fundamental Rights When Addressing Disinformation That Threatens the Security of the United States |url=https://www.dhs.gov/news/2022/05/02/fact-sheet-dhs-internal-working-group-protects-free-speech-other-fundamental-rights |website=dhs.gov |publisher=[[United States Department of Homeland Security]] |date=2 May 2022 |access-date=3 May 2022}}</ref>


On May 9, 2022, the DGB announced that it would provide quarterly reports to the [[United States Congress]].<ref name="Seitz_Merchant_5/4/2022">{{Cite web |last1=Seitz |first1=Amanda |last2=Merchant |first2=Nomaan |date=May 4, 2022 |title=DHS disinformation board's work, plans remain a mystery |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-united-states-freedom-of-speech-alejandro-mayorkas-69f658351103d4d049083ad20a713e2a |access-date=May 13, 2022 |website=[[Associated Press]] |language=en}}</ref>
On May 9, 2022, the DGB announced that it would provide quarterly reports to the [[United States Congress]].<ref name="Seitz_Merchant_5/4/2022">{{Cite web |last1=Seitz |first1=Amanda |last2=Merchant |first2=Nomaan |date=May 4, 2022 |title=DHS disinformation board's work, plans remain a mystery |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-united-states-freedom-of-speech-alejandro-mayorkas-69f658351103d4d049083ad20a713e2a |access-date=May 13, 2022 |website=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref>


==Criticism==
==Criticism==
The [[Associated Press]] noted that the "little credible information about the new Disinformation Governance Board" made it "an instant target for criticism", leading to a "bungled rollout" and "rocky start" for the board.<ref name="Seitz_Merchant_5/4/2022" /> [[Taylor Lorenz]], writing for ''[[The Washington Post]]'', described the board as falling victim to "a textbook disinformation campaign" about their mission, to which it failed to respond adequately.<ref name="dgb-pause"/> ''[[The American Conservative]]'' called the board "a cautionary note on how dangerously out of touch Washington is."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hirschauer |first=John |date=2022-07-09 |title=They Don't Trust Us; We Don't Trust Them |url=https://www.theamericanconservative.com/they-dont-trust-us-we-dont-trust-them/ |access-date=2022-07-10 |website=[[The American Conservative]] |language=en-US}}</ref>  
The Associated Press noted that the "little credible information about the new Disinformation Governance Board" made it "an instant target for criticism", leading to a "bungled rollout" and "rocky start" for the board.<ref name="Seitz_Merchant_5/4/2022" /> [[Taylor Lorenz]], writing for ''[[The Washington Post]]'', described the board as falling victim to "a textbook disinformation campaign" about their mission, to which it failed to respond adequately.<ref name="dgb-pause"/> ''[[The American Conservative]]'' called the board "a cautionary note on how dangerously out of touch Washington is."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hirschauer |first=John |date=2022-07-09 |title=They Don't Trust Us; We Don't Trust Them |url=https://www.theamericanconservative.com/they-dont-trust-us-we-dont-trust-them/ |access-date=2022-07-10 |website=[[The American Conservative]] |language=en-US}}</ref>  


[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] lawmakers and pundits quickly criticized the board after it was announced, with some calling for it to be disbanded. Senator [[Josh Hawley]] (R-[[Missouri|MO]]) said that "Homeland Security has decided to make policing Americans' speech its top priority".<ref name="Seitz" /> Senator [[Mitt Romney]] (R-[[Utah|UT]]) called the board a "terrible idea" that "communicates to the world that we're going to be spreading propaganda in our own country", arguing that it should be disbanded.<ref name="Seitz_Merchant_5/4/2022" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Sganga |first=Nicole |date=2022-05-06 |title=What is DHS' Disinformation Governance Board and why is everyone so mad about it? |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-is-dhs-disinformation-governance-board-and-why-is-everyone-so-mad-about-it/ |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=[[CBS News]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Some critics, including [[Florida]] governor [[Ron DeSantis]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Getahun |first=Hannah |date=2022-04-30 |title=DeSantis calls DHS Disinformation Governance Board a 'belated April Fool's joke' |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/desantis-calls-dhs-disinformation-board-an-april-fools-joke-2022-4 |website=[[Business Insider]] |access-date=2022-04-30}}</ref> and former [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] representative for [[Hawaii]] [[Tulsi Gabbard]], compared the board to the [[Ministry of Truth]], from [[George Orwell]]'s dystopian novel ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]''.<ref name="Blake" /><ref name="Hooper" /> [[Federal Communications Commission]] commissioner [[Brendan Carr (lawyer)|Brendan Carr]] called the board "[[Orwellian]]", "un-American" and "unconstitutional."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaplan |first=Talia |date=2022-05-09 |title=FCC commissioner says Biden's 'disinformation board' is 'unconstitutional' |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/fcc-commissioner-blasts-bidens-disinformation-board-as-orwellian-and-un-american |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=FOXBusiness |language=en-US}}</ref> Representatives [[Mike Turner]] (R-OH) and [[John Katko]] (R-NY) wrote that "Given the complete lack of information about this new initiative and the potential serious consequences of a government entity identifying and responding to 'disinformation,' we have serious concerns about the activities of this new Board".<ref name="Seitz_Merchant_5/4/2022" />  
[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] lawmakers and pundits quickly criticized the board after it was announced, with some calling for it to be disbanded. Senator [[Josh Hawley]] (R-[[Missouri|MO]]) said that "Homeland Security has decided to make policing Americans' speech its top priority".<ref name="Seitz" /> Senator [[Mitt Romney]] (R-[[Utah|UT]]) called the board a "terrible idea" that "communicates to the world that we're going to be spreading propaganda in our own country", arguing that it should be disbanded.<ref name="Seitz_Merchant_5/4/2022" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Sganga |first=Nicole |date=2022-05-06 |title=What is DHS' Disinformation Governance Board and why is everyone so mad about it? |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-is-dhs-disinformation-governance-board-and-why-is-everyone-so-mad-about-it/ |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=[[CBS News]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Some critics, including [[Florida]] governor [[Ron DeSantis]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Getahun |first=Hannah |date=2022-04-30 |title=DeSantis calls DHS Disinformation Governance Board a 'belated April Fool's joke' |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/desantis-calls-dhs-disinformation-board-an-april-fools-joke-2022-4 |website=[[Business Insider]] |access-date=2022-04-30}}</ref> and former Democratic representative for [[Hawaii]] [[Tulsi Gabbard]], compared the board to the [[Ministry of Truth]], from [[George Orwell]]'s dystopian novel ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]''.<ref name="Blake" /><ref name="Hooper" /> [[Federal Communications Commission]] commissioner [[Brendan Carr (lawyer)|Brendan Carr]] called the board "[[Orwellian]]", "un-American" and "unconstitutional."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaplan |first=Talia |date=2022-05-09 |title=FCC commissioner says Biden's 'disinformation board' is 'unconstitutional' |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/fcc-commissioner-blasts-bidens-disinformation-board-as-orwellian-and-un-american |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=FOXBusiness |language=en-US}}</ref> Representatives [[Mike Turner]] (R-OH) and [[John Katko]] (R-NY) wrote that "Given the complete lack of information about this new initiative and the potential serious consequences of a government entity identifying and responding to 'disinformation,' we have serious concerns about the activities of this new Board".<ref name="Seitz_Merchant_5/4/2022" />  


Republicans and conservatives also criticized the appointment of Jankowicz as head of the board, citing her past support of Democrats, her negative response to [[Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter]], and her skepticism of the provenance of [[Hunter Biden laptop controversy|Hunter Biden's laptop]]; Jankowicz had previously said that "we should view [the laptop] as a Trump campaign product".<ref name="Blake">{{cite news |last=Blake |first=Aaron |date=April 29, 2022 |title=The tempest over DHS's Disinformation Governance Board|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/04/29/disinformation-governance-board-dhs/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=May 2, 2022}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The ''[[Washington Examiner]]'' levied criticism against Jankowicz due to her praise of [[Christopher Steele]] (author of the controversial [[Steele dossier]], which the ''Examiner'' deemed "discredited") for his views on disinformation during an August 2020 podcast.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Dunleavy |first=Jerry |date=2022-04-28 |title=Biden 'disinformation' chief a Trump dossier author fan and Hunter Biden laptop doubter |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/bidens-disinformation-chief-is-trump-dossier-author-fan-and-hunter-laptop-doubter |magazine=[[Washington Examiner]] |access-date=2022-04-30}}</ref> Writing for ''[[National Review]]'', [[Jim Geraghty]] lauded the board's potential to dispel information disseminated by human smugglers on the southern border, as well as monitoring messages from terrorist and extremist groups, but objected to Jankowicz's appointment.<ref name="Blake" /><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Geraghty |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Geraghty |date=2022-04-28 |title=Are You Ready for the DHS 'Disinformation Governance Board'? |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/are-you-ready-for-the-dhs-disinformation-governance-board/ |magazine=[[National Review]] |access-date=2022-04-30}}</ref> In a press conference, Jen Psaki defended Jankowicz's appointment to the board, calling her "an expert on online disinformation... a person with extensive qualifications".<ref>{{cite news |last=Sunnucks |first=Mike |date=29 April 2022 |title=Ministry of Truth or needed social media watchdog? Biden's Disinformation Governance Board |url=https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/nation_world/ministry-of-truth-or-needed-social-media-watchdog-bidens-disinformation-governance-board/article_198db1a7-0f5e-52e1-84d6-bafee7c8d1c2.html |work=[[Herald and News]] |access-date=1 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, April 29, 2022 |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2022/04/29/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-april-29-2022/ |website=[[whitehouse.gov]] |publisher=[[White House]] |date=29 April 2022 |access-date=1 May 2022}}</ref> In response, Jankowicz said that at least one of her tweets was "taken out of context".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-29 |title=Meet Nina Jankowicz, Biden's New Disinformation Czar |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/news/meet-nina-jankowicz-bidens-new-disinformation-czar/ |access-date=2022-10-31 |website=National Review |language=en-US}}</ref>
Republicans and conservatives also criticized the appointment of Jankowicz as head of the board, citing her past support of Democrats, her negative response to [[Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter]], and her skepticism of the provenance of [[Hunter Biden laptop controversy|Hunter Biden's laptop]]; Jankowicz had previously said that "we should view [the laptop] as a Trump campaign product".<ref name="Blake">{{cite news |last=Blake |first=Aaron |date=April 29, 2022 |title=The tempest over DHS's Disinformation Governance Board|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/04/29/disinformation-governance-board-dhs/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=May 2, 2022}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The ''[[Washington Examiner]]'' levied criticism against Jankowicz due to her praise of [[Christopher Steele]] (author of the controversial [[Steele dossier]], which the ''Examiner'' deemed "discredited") for his views on disinformation during an August 2020 podcast.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Dunleavy |first=Jerry |date=2022-04-28 |title=Biden 'disinformation' chief a Trump dossier author fan and Hunter Biden laptop doubter |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/bidens-disinformation-chief-is-trump-dossier-author-fan-and-hunter-laptop-doubter |magazine=[[Washington Examiner]] |access-date=2022-04-30}}</ref> Writing for ''[[National Review]]'', [[Jim Geraghty]] lauded the board's potential to dispel information disseminated by human smugglers on the southern border, as well as monitoring messages from terrorist and extremist groups, but objected to Jankowicz's appointment.<ref name="Blake" /><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Geraghty |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Geraghty |date=2022-04-28 |title=Are You Ready for the DHS 'Disinformation Governance Board'? |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/are-you-ready-for-the-dhs-disinformation-governance-board/ |magazine=[[National Review]] |access-date=2022-04-30}}</ref> In a press conference, Jen Psaki defended Jankowicz's appointment to the board, calling her "an expert on online disinformation... a person with extensive qualifications".<ref>{{cite news |last=Sunnucks |first=Mike |date=29 April 2022 |title=Ministry of Truth or needed social media watchdog? Biden's Disinformation Governance Board |url=https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/nation_world/ministry-of-truth-or-needed-social-media-watchdog-bidens-disinformation-governance-board/article_198db1a7-0f5e-52e1-84d6-bafee7c8d1c2.html |work=[[Herald and News]] |access-date=1 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, April 29, 2022 |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2022/04/29/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-april-29-2022/ |website=[[whitehouse.gov]] |publisher=[[White House]] |date=29 April 2022 |access-date=1 May 2022}}</ref> In response, Jankowicz said that at least one of her tweets was "taken out of context".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-29 |title=Meet Nina Jankowicz, Biden's New Disinformation Czar |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/news/meet-nina-jankowicz-bidens-new-disinformation-czar/ |access-date=2022-10-31 |website=National Review |language=en-US}}</ref>
Retrieved from ‘https://openusaproject.com/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/16964...27690’