Now, countering misleading information is essential. But it’s not sufficient. Just as we tackle falsehoods and distortions in the immediate term, we have to invest in making ourselves more resilient to them in the long term.
Think about it this way. During COVID, we tirelessly delivered shots in arms, while working to prevent and prepare for future epidemics. We combat hackers while establishing at the same time layers of cybersecurity to respond to malicious activity – to do so faster and to ensure that attacks don’t bring down entire networks.
So similarly, even as we’re determined to expose and counter disinformation, the United States is equally focused on promoting an open, resilient information environment globally – where deceptive messages gain less traction, where truth is elevated.
We need governments to uphold media freedom and the safety of journalists on- and offline – because an independent and empowered press is a cornerstone for healthy democracies.
We need to enhance open government and expand access to information – how a legislator voted, who received a government contract, how economic data like GDP numbers are compiled – so that journalists and citizens alike can hold their leaders accountable.
We need to ensure that media regulators are independent and serve the public interest, rather than pressuring outlets to advance propaganda.
We need governments to allocate their advertising dollars equitably, transparently – not use those resources to promote or punish a given outlet.
We need greater transparency into who owns media companies, who owns the distribution networks – so that political or foreign entities can’t purchase a news organization and restrict or advance certain views without the public knowing who’s behind it.
We need to invest in civic and media literacy, and empower citizens to distinguish fact from fiction – especially as new technologies emerge like generative AI that can fool even the most sophisticated news consumers.
By taking steps like these, those peddling disinformation will find it harder to operate in the shadows. Our citizens will have greater access to quality information. They’ll be better equipped to assess the validity of the content that they encounter.
Let me give you a few illustrations of how we’re working to advance this comprehensive, affirmative approach.
One example: Journalists bring vital information to light – whether that’s reporting from a war zone or investigating corruption. The press has even uncovered itself disinformation campaigns.
So as part of promoting a resilient information environment, we’re supporting reporters as they face repression and economic pressures.
We’re helping newsrooms implement stronger safety protocols when reporters are threatened. We’re funding legal defense funds for journalists hit with expensive and baseless lawsuits that are meant to shut them up or shut them down.
The United States is cracking down on the misuse of commercial spyware to surveil and harass journalists or human rights defenders and others – including leveraging sanctions, export controls, visa restrictions to hold governments and firms accountable.
At last year’s Summit for Democracy, we brought together 10 other countries committed to ensuring that this technology – commercial spyware – is deployed consistent with universal human rights and basic freedoms. At this year’s summit, we’re announcing that half a dozen more nations are joining this coalition – South Korea, Japan, Germany, Finland, Poland, and Ireland.
At the same time, we’re working to strengthen the long-term financial sustainability of media outlets – especially local news – local news that makes communities more knowledgeable and less susceptible to falsehoods.
In Moldova, for example, USAID partnered with outlets to improve marketing and subscriptions – increasing revenues by 138 percent and online reach by 160 percent.
The United States is also committed to public interest media – those outlets that are fact-based, editorially independent, and dedicated to informing citizens about issues that are critical to their well-being, whether that’s corporate pollution or government corruption.
Through the U.S. Agency for Global Media – that’s the organization that began during World War II as the Voice of America – we’re one of eight major international public broadcasters that educate and engage hundreds of millions of people weekly in over 75 languages.
We’ve supported public radio in Ukraine, enabling 17 million Ukrainians to receive trustworthy news during Russia’s war of aggression.
At the very first Summit for Democracy, the United States dedicated $20 million to bolster public interest media in developing countries; we’re glad other donors have now contributed $30 million more to revitalize what is an essential public service.
A second way we’re promoting a healthy information environment is by investing in greater digital and media literacy.
Journalism helps get quality information out into the world. But we also have to do our best to make sure that readers, viewers, consumers, listeners – the ones receiving the content – can sort the wheat from the chaff.
When you look at who’s actually made themselves more resilient, more resistant to distortions and lies globally, this ability to discern what’s credible and what’s not is one of the biggest common denominators.
In Finland, students learn about disinformation in primary school. Taiwan teaches seniors in rural areas how to spot misleading messages.
Similarly, the United States’ three-day TechCamps have helped young leaders from Togo to Chile develop the skills to judge whether content is reliable.
Through our Digital Communication Network, 10,000 journalists and creative professionals from East Asia to Latin America are producing and sharing tools to promote accurate information.
We offer English classes around the world, in part so that people can access independent news outlets, not just state-sponsored news in their native language.
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