Fox News has recently settled a $787.5 million lawsuit filed by Dominion, a voting technology company, over its coverage of false rigging claims in the 2020 presidential election. However, the network still faces legal troubles, including a lawsuit by Smartmatic, another voting technology firm, and a lawsuit planned by Nina Jankowicz, a high-profile disinformation expert. Jankowicz, who was appointed to head the Disinformation Governance Board, was the target of harassment and abuse from conservative commentators on Fox News after quitting the board. She accused Fox News of monetizing disinformation and plans to file a lawsuit against the network, which she hopes to fund through a crowdsourcing campaign.

Jankowicz's planned lawsuit against Fox News highlights the challenges that individuals face in holding media organizations accountable for spreading disinformation. While the Dominion settlement was a rare example of a heavy price being extracted for blatant disinformation, individuals like Jankowicz may not have the financial resources to pursue legal action against powerful media organizations without the support of hedge funds or other wealthy backers. As a result, there may be few disincentives for media organizations to take out "easy" targets.

Jankowicz's experience also highlights the risks of using anti-disinformation or "fake news" laws to crack down on dissent. The creation of the Disinformation Governance Board was met with criticism from both conservatives, who saw it as an Orwellian "Ministry of Truth," and civil liberty groups, who viewed it as a conduit for state censorship. The board was disbanded within months, and Jankowicz faced personal assaults and harassment from Fox News commentators. While fighting disinformation is necessary, there is a need for transparency and accountability in such efforts to avoid the risks of abuse and unintended consequences.

H/T Yahoo News