Bill Overview
Title: Protecting Free Speech Act
Description: This bill terminates the Disinformation Governance Board of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and prohibits using DHS funding for the activities of any other entity that is substantially similar to the board.
Sponsors: Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-3]
Target Audience
Population: People consuming information over the internet
Estimated Size: 300000000
- The bill disbands the Disinformation Governance Board, which might have been involved in monitoring or addressing online disinformation.
- Online disinformation can affect anyone using the internet as they may encounter or spread false information.
- Limiting government oversight may affect how disinformation is managed or mitigated, potentially impacting individuals exposed to it.
Reasoning
- The policy is expected to primarily impact individuals in the US who consume information from the internet, as they may encounter misinformation that was previously managed or monitored by the Disinformation Governance Board.
- The population largely consists of adults, due to the high usage of internet among adults in the US.
- The policy's impact will vary based on individuals' occupation, internet usage, and reliance on online information.
- The coverage of free speech and government action on misinformation is a politically charged issue, likely impacting individuals differently depending on their political alignment.
Simulated Interviews
University Professor (Chicago, IL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about the potential spread of unchecked misinformation.
- The policy might empower more harmful content online.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 7 |
Retired (Raleigh, NC)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry that I might encounter more false or misleading information now.
- It feels like the government might be stepping back on something important.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might increase our workload in combating disinformation.
- The board provided a useful framework that we leaned on for support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
Social Media Influencer (Austin, TX)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support this policy; it feels like a win for free speech.
- I'm less worried about being unfairly targeted by government oversight.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Health Care Professional (Miami, FL)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about the potential spike in medical misinformation.
- This could make my job harder when patients believe false health claims.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 7 |
College Student (New York, NY)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have mixed feelings; free speech is critical, but so is managing misinformation.
- I'm worried this might reduce healthy discourse online.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Journalist (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I fear this may lead to more misinformation we need to cover.
- It feels like reducing efforts in a critical area of governance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
Government Employee (Seattle, WA)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The change introduces risks and rewards; I foresee challenges ahead.
- The termination might sway public opinion in various directions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Small Business Owner (Denver, CO)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm mostly unaffected but concerned about how policy might change online advertising dynamics.
- Hopefully, this will mean less scrutiny on small businesses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Digital Marketer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 32 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I need to stay vigilant about new disinformation that might spread.
- The policy could change the landscape of digital marketing strategies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $3000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The elimination of the board might affect how disinformation is managed on a federal level, potentially influencing public awareness and information credibility.
- Reducing oversight may have implications on disinformation efforts, particularly concerning national security.
- The funding previously allocated to the Disinformation Governance Board could be redirected to other DHS initiatives or budget needs.