Disinformation board to confront Russia and migrant smugglers


The Department of Homeland Security has launched a new dashboard to tackle disinformation

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security is intensifying its efforts to counter disinformation coming from Russia, as well as misinformation being circulated by human smugglers to target migrants hoping to travel to the US-Mexico border.

“The spread of disinformation can affect border security, the safety of Americans during disasters, and public confidence in our democratic institutions,” the department said in a statement Wednesday. He declined an interview request from The Associated Press.

A newly formed Disinformation Governance Board announced Wednesday that it will immediately begin targeting misinformation targeting migrants, an issue that has helped fuel surges at the US southern border in recent years. Human smugglers often spread misinformation about border policies to boost business.

“We are very concerned that Haitians who are taking the path of irregular migration are receiving misinformation that the border is open,” National Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said at the time.

The board will be led by disinformation expert Nina Jankowicz, who has researched Russian disinformation tactics and online harassment.

During the 2020 presidential campaign, Biden, a Democrat, repeatedly said he would push tech companies, including Facebook, to crack down on misinformation and conspiracy theories that have overwhelmed social media and its users.

Dozens of Republican lawmakers and pundits took to social media Wednesday to widely criticize the new board and call for its dissolution.

“Instead of policing our border, Homeland Security has decided to make policing the speech of Americans its top priority,” a tweet from US Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri read in part. “They are creating a Disinformation Board.”

DHS said in its statement that the board will “protect privacy, civil rights and civil liberties” as part of its duties.



Reference-abcnews.go.com

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