Bill Overview
Title: To prohibit the use of Federal funds to establish a Disinformation Governance Board.
Description: This bill prohibits the use of Department of Homeland Security funds to establish or fund the activities of a Disinformation Governance Board.
Sponsors: Rep. Johnson, Mike [R-LA-4]
Target Audience
Population: Global consumers of news and online media
Estimated Size: 332000000
- Disinformation campaigns can target anyone consuming news and media, hence a wide global audience is impacted.
- Disinformation affects democracies, public health, and many global issues, making every global citizen a potential target.
- Many countries are battling with disinformation, so global efforts to manage this problem would affect an extensive audience.
Reasoning
- The allocated budget for the policy is $0, meaning there is no direct financial resource to support infrastructure or interventions to counter disinformation.
- The target population in the USA is large, approximately 332 million people, many of whom consume news and online media and can potentially be affected by disinformation.
- The policy does not introduce new governance structures to combat disinformation, suggesting that individuals will remain vulnerable to targeted false information without new mitigations.
- Since the policy diverts no resources, individuals with existing resources or resilience against disinformation will experience little change, while those deeply impacted by disinformation campaigns might notice broader societal changes over time.
- Given the diversity in media consumption, demographic differences, and access to critical media skills, the impact on wellbeing varies, possibly leading to a perpetuation of disinformation impacts over time.
Simulated Interviews
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe disinformation is a big issue, but this policy seems like a step back.
- Without a dedicated body to counter disinformation, we're essentially leaving ourselves vulnerable.
- I try to stay informed, but not everyone has the time or skills.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
Medical Professional (Houston, TX)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I depend on reliable information for health advice and this policy worries me.
- Without efforts to tackle disinformation, public health could be at risk.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 6 |
Retired (Chicago, IL)
Age: 56 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe education is our best defense against disinformation.
- It's troubling that more isn't being done at a national level to address this.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Journalist (New York, NY)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My daily work involves combating disinformation; I see how pervasive it is.
- Lack of government support will make it harder for journalists to do their job.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 4 |
Digital Marketer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The spread of disinformation threatens industries and advertising integrity.
- Policy seems like avoidance rather than addressing the critical issue.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
University Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Disinformation is rampant on social media, affecting political perspectives.
- I’m concerned about how this will influence younger generations.
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 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 5 |
Business Owner (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't spend much time online, so this policy doesn't affect me much.
- Disinformation isn't as noticeable in my daily activities.
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 |
Educator (Boston, MA)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Educational content quality could be impacted by unchecked disinformation.
- We need more resources to help educators and students navigate this.
- Policy doesn’t resolve the underlying issues.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
Public Relations Specialist (Denver, CO)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy limits the ability to tackle misinformation that affects business reputation.
- I think there's more to lose without organized efforts against disinformation.
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 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 5 |
Stay-at-Home Parent (Minneapolis, MN)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry about the content my kids are exposed to.
- Without protective measures, families might struggle more with identifying false information.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
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
- Potential redirection of DHS resources throughout its wide array of operational areas.
- Stakeholders concerned with disinformation will need to seek alternative methods or measures.
- The international community's involvement and response to disinformation may impact global relations.