Bill Overview
Title: Dissolving the Disinformation Governance Board Act
Description: This bill dissolves the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Disinformation Governance Board and directs DHS to immediately remove its Executive Director. The bill also prohibits the use of federal funds for the board's operation. Further, DHS (1) may not establish any entity equivalent to the board or authorize activities at DHS that are substantially similar to the board's activities, and (2) must submit to Congress a report describing the board's formation and all of the records in DHS's possession related to the board.
Sponsors: Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
Target Audience
Population: Internet users affected by disinformation monitoring
Estimated Size: 250000000
- The Disinformation Governance Board was intended to monitor and counteract disinformation, which impacts information dissemination primarily in digital spaces.
- The target population involves individuals and entities engaging with or affected by disinformation, including social media users, media companies, and organizations focused on information integrity.
- Globally, internet users are potentially impacted as disinformation can cross national boundaries and influence international discourses.
- Multiple stakeholders, including governments, news organizations, and social media platforms, have an interest and role in managing disinformation, suggesting a broad population impact.
Reasoning
- The Disinformation Governance Board was intended to monitor and counteract misinformation in digital spaces, impacting a broad range of internet users, social media enthusiasts, media companies, and organizations that prioritize information integrity.
- The dissolution of this body may lead to increased dissemination of misinformation, potentially impacting the wellbeing and trust of internet users who rely heavily on accurate information.
- Individuals who are highly engaged in information-based professions may feel a loss of institutional security and support, potentially lowering their perceived wellbeing with this policy shift.
- It's important to include average internet users, social media influencers, journalists, and organizations combating misinformation to capture a wide array of perspectives on this policy's impact.
- Wellbeing assessment takes into account not just the emotional and mental impact, but also how informed individuals feel in their social and professional environments post-policy change.
Simulated Interviews
Content Creator (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry about the rising tide of misinformation.
- The board offered some reassurance that disinformation was being monitored.
- There is a loss of protective oversight which keeps my followers informed.
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 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 4 |
Software Developer (Austin, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I can usually discern misinformation myself.
- It's better to have personal responsibility than rely on DHS oversight.
- I’m not much affected by the Board's activities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Journalist (New York, NY)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Dissolving the board might hinder efforts to combat large-scale misinformation.
- I feel this policy could lead to increased challenges in journalism.
- The absence of a monitoring body might weaken public trust in news.
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 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 5 |
College Student (Portland, OR)
Age: 24 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Misinformation is a big issue, especially in academic contexts.
- The dissolution of the board could lead to more unverified information.
- It’s a step backward in an era of digital communication.
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 | 4 |
Government Employee (Raleigh, NC)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The board's dissolution places more responsibility on state governance.
- It may cause inter-agency conflict if not well coordinated.
- Policy lacks long-term foresight.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 4 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The board's removal might increase misinformation in my news feed.
- There’s a sense of losing a protective perspective.
- I rely on what I read to stay informed, despite knowing the internet is rife with falsehoods.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 1 | 3 |
Social Media Manager (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The board provided an additional layer of content oversight.
- Without it, more due diligence is required on my part.
- There's a greater challenge in verifying information independently.
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 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 5 |
Teacher (Chicago, IL)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The dissolution captures broader governmental neglect of media literacy issues.
- Students may face greater challenges in distinguishing fact from fiction.
- It's a setback for educational efforts around responsible information consumption.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 3 |
Non-Profit Worker (Seattle, WA)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy undermines efforts to counter digital misinformation through official channels.
- Our work depends on reliable support structures within the government.
- Potential amplification of falsehoods could damage our credibility.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 4 |
Freelance Writer (Denver, CO)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Freedom from government oversight is a form of liberty online.
- This act aligns with preserving digital spaces for free expression.
- There's a debate balance between monitoring misinformation and free speech.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $-9000000 (Low: $-10000000, High: $-8000000)
Year 2: $-9000000 (Low: $-10000000, High: $-8000000)
Year 3: $-9000000 (Low: $-10000000, High: $-8000000)
Year 5: $-9000000 (Low: $-10000000, High: $-8000000)
Year 10: $-9000000 (Low: $-10000000, High: $-8000000)
Year 100: $-9000000 (Low: $-10000000, High: $-8000000)
Key Considerations
- Evaluating the Disinformation Governance Board's previous effectiveness in addressing disinformation is crucial.
- Future disinformation governance's reliance on other mechanisms and entities in absence of a specifically tasked board may warrant observation.