In a recent revelation to Congress, Nina Jankowicz, former head of the disbanded Disinformation Governance Board, disclosed that the Department of Homeland Security deliberately remained opaque in response to widespread criticism that led to the board’s downfall.
During a deposition last April, Jankowicz discussed the department’s internal handling of concerns surrounding the struggling board. The transcript of this deposition was released by the House Judiciary Committee this week, shedding light on Jankowicz’s frustrations. She mentioned that her superiors instructed her to be as vague as possible when addressing the board’s issues, a direction that she found challenging.
Jankowicz, who served as executive director of the board for a brief period from March to May 2022, resigned amidst backlash from Republicans who questioned the board’s neutrality and accused it of bias against conservative viewpoints. Following her departure, DHS dissolved the board. In her deposition, Jankowicz expressed feeling abandoned by DHS and used as a scapegoat.
The controversy surrounding the board began as soon as it was announced, with concerns that it would suppress conservative perspectives. Jankowicz’s previous political statements, particularly her support for Christopher Steele and skepticism towards the Hunter Biden laptop story, exacerbated these fears. However, she refused to address her partisan social media posts during the deposition, claiming they were irrelevant.
Despite the challenges faced by the Disinformation Governance Board, Jankowicz continues to advocate against disinformation through her nonprofit organization, the American Sunlight Project. She recently reached out to lawmakers who investigated her and DHS for censorship, emphasizing the need for a bipartisan approach to combatting disinformation for the sake of democracy.
It is worth noting that the Biden administration, particularly DHS, continues to face criticism for its role in pressuring social media platforms to regulate content. As the debate on free speech and online censorship unfolds, Jankowicz remains committed to her mission of addressing disinformation on a broader scale.
