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An Escalating Campaign to Suppress Research on Online Misinformation
An escalating campaign led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and other Republicans is posing a serious threat to programs that study political disinformation and the quality of medical information online. This campaign, aimed at academics, universities, and government agencies, accuses them of colluding with tech companies to censor right-wing views. As a result, these organizations are either overhauling or ending their research programs.
Stanford University, for example, is considering how to continue tracking election-related misinformation through the Election Integrity Partnership (EIP). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has frozen a $150 million program dedicated to advancing the communication of medical information due to regulatory and legal threats.
As a result of these campaigns, academics and government scientists admit that their efforts to study online falsehoods and misinformation are being stifled. This is concerning considering the rise in online propaganda and covert influence campaigns by foreign nations like Russia and China. Additionally, public health officials are struggling to combat medical misinformation as the United States enters the fall and winter virus season.
The campaign is primarily led by conservatives who argue that social media platforms suppress their views. These efforts to limit moderation have intensified, with the most prominent effort being a lawsuit known as Missouri v. Biden. This case is now before the Supreme Court, and the Biden administration seeks to have the high court block a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals that found government officials likely violated the First Amendment by influencing tech companies to remove or suppress posts related to the coronavirus and elections. This ruling also included restrictions on academic groups like the Stanford Internet Observatory.
Jordan has issued subpoenas and demands for researchers’ communications, further discouraging them from pursuing their studies. Disinformation scholars are also facing lawsuits and public records requests from conservative sympathizers. This ongoing campaign is seen by many as an attempt to silence the scientific community and restrict academic research.
As a result of these challenges, researchers are concerned that the integrity of science is being compromised. Funding for programs addressing online rumors and misinformation is being halted, potentially leaving important topics vulnerable to misinformation unaddressed.