Another day, another working group on “misinformation” of the White House.
The Biden administration set up a new Internet policy working group on Thursday – led by Vice President Kamala Harris – with goals including “developing programs and policies” to protect “political figures” and journalists from “misinformation”, “abuse” and “brake”
The action follows the disastrous launch of the Ministry of Homeland Security in April of its disinformation management board, which was halted after outrage over the alleged move to government-led censorship of the internet.
A presidential memorandum to set up the new working group describes a large-scale mission to protect people who seek a role in public life from online critics.
In the United States and around the world, women and LGBTQI + political leaders, public figures, activists and journalists are particularly targeted by sexualized forms of online harassment and abuse, undermining their ability to exercise their human rights and participate in democracy, governance and civic life. “, The note says.
“Online abuse and harassment aimed at preventing women from making political decisions about their own lives and communities undermines the functioning of democracy.”
Members of the new task force include other heavy attackers on Biden, such as Homeland Security Minister Alejandro Mayorkas, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
The action follows the disastrous presentation of the Ministry of Internal Security in April to its disinformation management council. PATRICK T. FALLON / AFP via Getty Images The Biden administration set up a new Internet policy working group on Thursday, led by Vice President Kamala Harris. Win McNami / Getty Images
The group will hold its first meeting on Thursday afternoon. Within 180 days, she will present to President Biden a plan that “outlines[es] a comprehensive state approach to preventing and tackling gender-based violence facilitated by technology, including concrete actions that executive departments, agencies and services have committed to take to implement the working group’s recommendations.
Within a year, the board will issue a report with “additional recommendations and actions” advising broader steps that can be taken by internet platforms, state and local authorities and schools, the document said.
In April, Biden was criticized for creating what critics called an “anti-utopian” disinformation bureau at the DHS, which many saw as a way for the government to control freedom of speech online.
Members of the new working group include Interior Minister Alejandro Mayorkas, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken (above). ANDREW HARNIK / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
Conservatives have criticized this “Disinformation Management Council” and also noted its time – after Elon Musk promised to make Twitter a haven for free speech through his $ 44 billion takeover of a social media platform known for selectively censoring right-wing views. points.
The election also sparked the election of Nina Jankovic, a “disinformation expert” who has repeatedly tried to dispel doubts about The Post’s own coverage of Hunter Biden’s infamous laptop, telling the Associated Press in October 2020 that it should is seen as a “product of the Trump campaign.”
Jankovic also insisted on a rebuttal claim after 2016 that then-presidential candidate Donald Trump had links to Kremlin-linked Alfa Bank, a claim at the center of a lawsuit against Clinton’s campaign lawyer accused by special lawyer John Durham. for lying to the FBI.
A presidential memorandum to set up the new working group describes a large-scale mission to protect people seeking a role in public life from online critics.EPA / ERIC LEE
The misinformation church was also snatched for a bizarre performance by TikTok in February 2021, in which she changed the lyrics to Mary Poppins’ song “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” to fake news.
Within a month, she and the panel were scrapped.
In a press conference Wednesday night, a Biden administration official said the new task force contrasts with the Government Disinformation Council because “we are particularly focused on online activities that are illegal conduct, such as cyber harassment or the dissemination of intimate images without consent.” or targeted harassment. “
Within 180 days, the board will present to President Biden a plan that “outlines[es] a government-wide approach to preventing and tackling gender-based violence facilitated by technology. ” Chris Cleponis / CNP / SplashNew
However, the note on the creation of the panel describes a broader mission and specifically refers to criticism of public figures – who in the US legal system have a harder time prosecuting defamation to allow room for political speech, as well as because they were looking for the spotlight.
The note said: “The working group will work between executive departments, agencies and offices to assess and address online harassment and abuse that constitute technology-based gender-based violence, including through … program development and policies to address online harassment, abuse, and disinformation campaigns targeting women and LGBTQ + individuals who are public and political figures, government and civic leaders, activists, and journalists in the United States and around the world.
In April, Taylor Lorenz, a reporter who specializes in covering the Internet culture at the Washington Post, drew considerable attention through allegations of online harassment – drawing sympathy from some and critics from others who noted that digital trolls come to work in large news publications. .
Lorenz, a former New York Times journalist who cried on MSNBC as she recounted the “harassment” she experienced online, then published an article revealing the identity of the social media user, alleging that she “docked” an anonymous woman. , who manages the Twitter account “Libs of TikTok”.
“Doxxing” is the term used to describe the act of publishing personal information of those who wish to remain anonymous. Critics accused Lorenz of hypocrisy after she allegedly showed up at the woman’s relatives’ house to ask questions.
The Libs of TikTok profile, which publishes TikTok videos from liberals and generates more than 662,500 followers, posted an image of Lorenz outside the home of one of her relatives.
Lorenz defended her decision to reveal the woman’s identity, tweeting: “Reporters make phone calls, send messages, show places and knock on doors when telling a story. I reported this story in detail, using every tool I had to make sure I had the right woman.
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