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Department of Homeland Security Sets Up ‘Disinformation Governance Board’ to Fight ‘Misinformation’

Read the linked article.

And the 2nd part is in the converse. Meaning many here have jumped on the suggestion that this department will be restricting speech by Americans. Nothing in the article or press release suggested anything like that. Nor does the government have access to/control over the servers of Twitter, Facebook or any social medica company.
I went to the well. The DHS release.

Disinformation and misinformation propagated and disseminated by both domestic and foreign actors were listed as the first key factors influencing the heightened threat environment, with grievances stoked by unsubstantiated widespread election fraud conspiracy theories and COVID-19 mis/disinformation noted as inspiring violent extremist attacks during 2021.

“……..both foreign and domestic…….”


The bulletin said that calls for violence have been notably targeting “U.S. critical infrastructure; soft targets and mass gatherings; faith-based institutions, such as churches, synagogues, and mosques; institutions of higher education; racial and religious minorities; government facilities and personnel, including law enforcement and the military; the media; and perceived ideological opponents.” Violence against these locations or groups could stem from anti-government extremism, racially or religiously motivated extremism, and/or disinformation or conspiracy theories; for example, “COVID-19 mitigation measures—particularly COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates—have been used by domestic violent extremists to justify violence since 2020 and could continue to inspire these extremists to target government, healthcare, and academic institutions that they associate with those measures.”

“……..domestic violent extremists……”




Yes, I see where they say this;


“Board intended to "coordinate countering misinformation related to homeland security, focused specifically on irregular migration and Russia."

There needs to be ironclad language as this seems to relate to calls coming from inside the house as well.

Also the timing couldn’t be more tone deaf given the events of the past few days.
 
Ministry of Truth threatens freedom of speech and democracy.
So, you want our government to just pretend foreign misinformation campaigns don't exist? Let the Chinese and North Koreans spread whatever they want?
 
Of COURSE it's not their [stated] mission. Good grief. It never is. They're not THAT stupid.
I trust my ability to research information from multiple reliable and verifiable sources much more than any “disinformation governance board”. Especially a government run disinformation governance board.

I’m not paranoid, like some here, that the government’s intention is to deliberately mislead Americans. I just don’t have faith that the board will do a good job.
 
The government doesn’t have the right to decide what truth is or isn't for the American public.

You can't really say disinformation board and Constitutionally protected free speech are going to co-exsist in any sense of the word.
Government agencies, on an everyday basis, release public statements that are deliberately tailored to suit their desired message.

Nothing new, and not a 1A issue.
 
Government agencies, on an everyday basis, release public statements that are deliberately tailored to suit their desired message.

Nothing new, and not a 1A issue.

If that's the case, why do they specifically need a disinformation board to do it?
 
So, you want our government to just pretend foreign misinformation campaigns don't exist? Let the Chinese and North Koreans spread whatever they want?

Because we don't always have a good history of verifying information. Which is also too easy to abuse.

Remember the Gulf War? Based on the information from the Intel community that said Saddam had weapons of mass destruction. Which we found no indications of any what so ever? We start a war based on bad intel?!?
 
I went to the well. The DHS release.

Disinformation and misinformation propagated and disseminated by both domestic and foreign actors were listed as the first key factors influencing the heightened threat environment, with grievances stoked by unsubstantiated widespread election fraud conspiracy theories and COVID-19 mis/disinformation noted as inspiring violent extremist attacks during 2021.

“……..both foreign and domestic…….”


The bulletin said that calls for violence have been notably targeting “U.S. critical infrastructure; soft targets and mass gatherings; faith-based institutions, such as churches, synagogues, and mosques; institutions of higher education; racial and religious minorities; government facilities and personnel, including law enforcement and the military; the media; and perceived ideological opponents.” Violence against these locations or groups could stem from anti-government extremism, racially or religiously motivated extremism, and/or disinformation or conspiracy theories; for example, “COVID-19 mitigation measures—particularly COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates—have been used by domestic violent extremists to justify violence since 2020 and could continue to inspire these extremists to target government, healthcare, and academic institutions that they associate with those measures.”

“……..domestic violent extremists……”




Yes, I see where they say this;


“Board intended to "coordinate countering misinformation related to homeland security, focused specifically on irregular migration and Russia."

There needs to be ironclad language as this seems to relate to calls coming from inside the house as well.

Also the timing couldn’t be more tone deaf given the events of the past few days.
What "calls" are you referring to.
And what "events"? Musk taking over Twitter?
The same people preaching conspiracy theories about "big brother" last week will be the same ones preaching the same now and next week.
 
Ministry of Truth threatens freedom of speech and democracy.
Well we certainly know right wing conspiracy theories spread via the internet have been a threat to our democracy.

As to this "Ministry" being a threat to freedom of speech and democracy, please provide examples of how exactly you envision this being a threat.
 
The US ministry of truth (called the “governance board”?) will promote free speech through careful removal of “misinformation” from the internet - details to follow. ;)
I have no problem with them pointing out the lies on the internet as long as they take no action to remove them, UNLESS, they can show they come directly from Russian bots.
 
I have no problem with them pointing out the lies on the internet as long as they take no action to remove them, UNLESS, they can show they come directly from Russian bots.

Are you kidding me? You are all for adding a new government agency “as long as they take no action”. Obviously, the federal ‘ministry of truth’ will strongly encourage removing any “disinformation” from the internet - that’s the entire reason for their existence.
 
Good grief - you're really not that freeking partisan (or just plain lazy) are you?

First, the Miami Standard article - linked in the OP - is not Fox News.

Second, you actually believe "any MSM" site isn't propaganda?

Third, it took all of 10 seconds to find this - the VERY FIRST SEARCH RESULT of an entire page of credible results (none of which listed any results by Fox News, btw):

You are so dismissed.

^ Emotional post. All you had to do was provide a link to a credible media outlet, not whatever that HSToday is. :)
 
What "calls" are you referring to.

You’ve never run across the phrase?
Maybe before your time…
What 70's horror movie first used the famous line the call is coming from inside the house?


Black Christmas (1974) was the first horror film to use this line. The cast has been receiving disturbing phone calls throughout the movie, and when the police with the help of the phone company investigate the matter, this is the conclusion. When a Stranger Calls is built around this.


And what "events"? Musk taking over Twitter?

Yes, that event. How many government agencies are needed for the stated purpose?
Foreign Malign Influence Center


States have their own version.


Then there are these folks.

The same people preaching conspiracy theories about "big brother" last week will be the same ones preaching the same now and next week.
I don’t know what this one is about….
 
What "calls" are you referring to.
And what "events"? Musk taking over Twitter?

You do realize that Musk is a liberal don't you? A liberal working hard and profiting off of playing the big climate change hysteria game, while at the same time pandering to the the PRC. CHYNA, whom he relies on for half of his market for his cars, and where the rare earth materials and the production for his products has to come from.

Anyone who thinks Musk's buy out of Twitter was specifically to take sides with the conservative right is just drinking their kool-aid from the same glass but with a different straw.



The same people preaching conspiracy theories about "big brother" last week will be the same ones preaching the same now and next week.

The progressive left culture war cannot win as long as there is a free exchange of ideas. The left views difference of opinion as misinformation , and then claims it to be dangerous pretty much in the same way the Taliban does allow their people opposing viewpoints.
 
You do realize that Musk is a liberal don't you? A liberal working hard and profiting off of playing the big climate change hysteria game, while at the same time pandering to the the PRC. CHYNA, whom he relies on for half of his market for his cars, and where the rare earth materials and the production for his products has to come from.

Anyone who thinks Musk's buy out of Twitter was specifically to take sides with the conservative right is just drinking their kool-aid from the same glass but with a different straw.





The progressive left culture war cannot win as long as there is a free exchange of ideas. The left views difference of opinion as misinformation , and then claims it to be dangerous pretty much in the same way the Taliban does allow their people opposing viewpoints.

^ This is what the Right wants us to believe. Their goal is to have their illiberal, authoritarian views dominate democratic ones to the point where only their views are the ones that circulate.
 
Because we don't always have a good history of verifying information. Which is also too easy to abuse.

Remember the Gulf War? Based on the information from the Intel community that said Saddam had weapons of mass destruction. Which we found no indications of any what so ever? We start a war based on bad intel?!?
Ok, so because the government isn't perfect, it shouldn't try to stop other nations from meddling in our affairs. Got it!
 
Did any of you complaining about this being a free speech violation by the government bother to read the focus was on misinformation coming out of Russia?
And did any of you note anywhere that it was suggested this department would be removing or restricting speech by any American? No? Didn't notice that?

Combating misinformation is not the same as restricting who can say what where.
For instance, Trump idiots sending out 10MM texts falsely claiming hydroxychloroquine was safe and effective in treating covid could be "combatted" by the CDC issuing a statement that the medicine has never been proven safe in humans and no study has suggested it is effective.

Does that sound Orwellian to you folks? Should lies that might impact lives go unchecked?
Out of curiosity, if we restrict what information you can receive from foreign sources does that not limit your ability to determine for yourself the veracity of any claim being made? I'm not sure if you're old enough to remember the Soviet Union but a HUGE part of their communications infrastructure was geared toward excluding western media from disseminating information inside the Soviet borders. North Korea does the same kind of thing now.

"Protecting your people" from free speech is, without question, censorship and propaganda.
 
No, that's not the Babylon Bee, she really wrote that the purpose of her new Ministry of Truth is to protect free speech.

You couldn't write this stuff. No one would have believed you.
 
Well I see this going really well - our government telling us what's good information and what isn't.
after 4 years of Trump, dis/mis information is a rampant as ever. Just ask Tucker, Perjury Taylor Greene, Trump and anyone else in the Cult.
 
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