The US government has dismantled key guardrails against disinformation, granting Russia and China more freedom to spread false information as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies its rivalry with foreign adversaries.
Federal funding for research on disinformation has been slashed, including hundreds of grants cancelled by the National Science Foundation. Researchers warned that this move will make it harder for the public to separate fact from fiction, especially in areas such as health misinformation and artificial intelligence.
The closure of the State Department’s Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (R/FIMI) hub has also been criticized, with experts saying it will leave the US vulnerable to disinformation. The R/FIMI hub had tracked and countered foreign influence operations for over eight years.
“Shielding companies from criticism by defunding research is censorship that should trouble all of us,” said Becca Branum, a deputy director at the nonprofit Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT). “Research on how technology impacts society is critical to holding powerful tech platforms accountable.”
As disinformation continues to spread, concerns are growing about its national security implications. Experts warn that the US’s ability to counter false information will be severely weakened without these guardrails.
“The move comes as Rubio unveiled wider plans to restructure the State Department, cutting positions and shuttering specialized programs,” said Benjamin Shultz, lead researcher at the American Sunlight Project. “As we approach 100 days of Trump 2.0, it’s harder than ever to believe that American politics — and society writ large — have reached a place where truth and facts are optional.”
Source: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250428-us-anti-disinformation-guardrails-fall-in-trump-s-first-100-days