DateIssued:January20,2025
Topic:CivilRights,MentalHealth,Technology
WHATDOESTHISEXECUTIVEORDERDO?
Thisorderrestrictsthefederalgovernmentfromengaginginany conductthatwould“unconstitutionallyabridgethefreespeechofany AmericanCitizen.”
Theordercallsforendingcensorshipofprotectedspeech.
TheorderdirectstheAttorneyGeneralandheadsofdepartmentsand agenciestoinvestigatetheactivitiesoftheFederalGovernmentoverthe lastfouryears“thatareinconsistentwiththepurposesandpoliciesof theorder.”Theyareinstructedtoprepareareportwith recommendationsforremedialactionsbasedonthefindings.
HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?
Thisorderrollsbackpreviouscommitmentsandattemptsatmanaging hatespeech,“misinformation,”and“disinformation”ononlineplatforms, articulatinganinterestin“securingtherightoftheAmericanpeopleto engageinconstitutionallyprotectedspeech.”
Toenforcetheorder,theWhiteHouseisdirectingtheJusticeDepartment torecommend"remedialaction.”Itisstillunclearwhatthiswilllooklike.
Additionally,theorderprohibitstheuseoftaxpayerresourcestoward censorship,whichcouldpotentiallyhaveimplicationsforresearcherswho havebeentargetedbyconservativegroupsfortrackingandworkingto mitigatemisinformationonline.
Whiletheorderisvagueinitsdescriptionofconsequencesforthosein breach,itfulfillsthepromisePresidentTrumpmadeinavideojustafter theelectiontoendcensorshipassoonasheisinoffice.Inthevideo,he threatenstofirefederalemployeeswhohave“engagedindomestic censorship,whetherdirectlyorindirectly.”
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
Thisordercomesaftermanyofthelargestsocialmediacompanies havealreadystartedlimitingand/orremovingfactchecking technologiesfromtheirplatformsthroughthe2024election.Thebanning ofcontentmoderationpoliciesimpactsBlackcommunitiesinseveral waysincludingpublichealthoutcomesandpoliticalengagement.
HealthOutcomes:PublicHealthmisinformationanddisinformation onlinearerampantasevidencedthroughouttheCOVIDpandemic. ResearchshowsBlackAmericanscommonlybelievedinCOVID-19 vaccinemisinformationwhichcontributedtolowerratesofvaccination inBlackAmericanpopulationsthroughexacerbatingmedicalmistrust.In additiontotheperilsofpublichealthmisinformation,BlackAmericans aremoresusceptibletoonlineracialdiscriminationandotherformsof onlinevictimization,whichislinkedtonegativementalhealthoutcomes. Thisorderislikelytocontributetoariseinexposuretodiscriminatory contentandmis/disinformationforBlackAmericans.
PoliticalEngagement:Politicalmis/disinformationisconsistently evolvingandadvancingwithrealworldimplicationsforBlackAmerican votersasevidencedinthelastthreepresidentialelectioncycles.In2024, therewerereportsoframpantspreadofmisinformationthroughpolitical adsand“deepfakes”ofpublicofficialsandcandidatesdesignedto misleadBlackvoters.Withoutmoderation,Blackvotersmaycontinueto betargetedwithfalseinformationaboutvotinglogisticsandpolitical candidates'policiesinthefuture.
HOWARECBCMEMBERSRESPONDING?
TheCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)hashistoricallydemonstrateda commitmenttoprotectingtheAmericanpeoplefromhatespeechand misinformationonline.Notably,inMarch2024,Reps.TerriSewelland ShontelBrownledalettertotheDepartmentsofJustice,Homeland Security,andElectionAssistanceexpressingconcernsabouttheuseof generativeAItotargetBlackandBrownvoterswithmisinformationinthe 2024electioncycle.
Duringthe2024electionseason,CBCMemberRep.ShontelBrown, backedbytheNAACPandtheLawyers’CommitteeforCivilRightsunder Law,introducedtheSecuringElectionsfromAIDeceptionActasadirect responsetotheincreasedpoliticalmis/disinformation.Thislegislation wouldprohibittheuseofAIto“depriveordefraudindividualsoftheirright tovoteandrequiredisclaimersonAIgeneratedcontent.”
Inapressreleaseonthematter,Rep.Brownstated,“Iamespecially concernedthatdeepfakeimages,audio,andvideowillbeusedtotarget Blackandminorityvoterswhosevotingrightshavehistoricallyand consistentlybeenunderthreat.Combining21stcenturytechnologywith old-fashionedvotersuppressionandmisinformationisadangerous combination.”
