The McCain Institute hosted an event to discuss the findings and recommendations outlined in the report. Watch HERE.
Event kicks off a series of U.S. democracy-focused events to be hosted by the McCain Institute this fall
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 19, 2024) – The McCain Institute and the Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University (ASU) today released a report titled “Defending American Democracy in the Digital Age: Recommendations Report.”
The report follows nearly two years of work by the McCain Institute and the Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s Task Force on Defeating Disinformation Attacks on U.S. Democracy. More than a dozen members comprised this nonpartisan task force with the goal of understanding how technology has facilitated the spread of mis-, dis-, and mal-information (MDM)—which seeks to undermine American institutions and democratic values—and developing actionable recommendations for policymakers and the tech industry to encourage unified action against MDM threats.
“The release of this report could not come at a more important time,” said McCain Institute Director for Democracy Programs Paul Fagan. “Disinformation poses a significant threat to American elections and democracy, and it’s critical to understand its impact and ways to prevent its effect. Many tools are available to help Americans decipher fact from fiction, and we hope our report will shed light on how federal and state policymakers, as well as the private sector, can better protect Americans from an onslaught of information in the digital age.”
The McCain Institute hosted an event to mark the report’s launch, featuring task force members discussing their recommendations and Arizona’s impact on the national political and electoral conversations. Experts from academia, civil society, media, and local government shared valuable insights into how misinformation is being weaponized to undermine public trust, and the steps needed to strengthen democratic resilience.
“A healthy democracy … relies on the free flow of reliable, accurate information,” said Dean of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication Battinto L. Batts, Jr. “The Cronkite School has worked for years to provide resources to improve digital media literacy and help the public recognize the dangers of misinformation.”
“The internet is an increasingly complex and opaque information space, and it has an unescapable influence on American voters, and therefore American democracy,” said Alliance for Securing Democracy Managing Director, Rachael Dean Wilson. “The reason these conversations are important is because people need to understand the complexities of the information space, and then interact with these platforms and their phones differently.”
“Part of the challenge with [misinformation] is that it has been politicized. John McCain, before he died, made a heroic stand on what Russia was doing in the 2016 election while he still could. There are voices still on the Hill who are concerned about this, but it’s not a solitary concern,” said Jim Ludes, Executive Director, Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy. “The Russians have been creating official sounding news sources in the U.S. and Western Europe and are filling them with ‘newsy’ sort of stuff—these are platforms for the delivery of divisive content… This is not just a technology problem, it’s certainly a people problem, and it’s a foreign policy problem.”
“I think some countries who are more precariously placed will gravitate towards the Russian model, towards the China model, and it’s why we know that some of these foreign state adversaries are trying to help out some of our domestic friends in sowing the seeds of discontent with our democracy,” said Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer.
Top line recommendations in the report include:
- Invest in Media Literacy: Develop media literacy programs to equip individuals with skills to identify misinformation and foster informed engagement.
- Prebunking and Accuracy Nudges: Use prebunking strategies and accuracy prompts to proactively counteract misinformation and encourage critical evaluation of content.
- Tax Incentives: Provide tax credits to sustain local journalism, essential for informed communities and democracy.
- Increased Transparency: Ensure online political ads have the same transparency and disclosure as traditional media, including public databases and clear disclaimers.
- Nationwide Election Information: Establish a centralized 311 hotline for accurate, local voting information to combat misinformation.
- Algorithmic Transparency: Mandate social media algorithm transparency to understand content prioritization and reduce disinformation.
- User Validation: Implement optional, free ID verification to distinguish genuine accounts from fake ones, enhancing trust.
- Coordinate the U.S. Government Response for a New Era of “Cold War”: Organizations across the national security community of the United States should consider their efficacy in meeting the disinformation challenge to the West.
To view the full report, click HERE.
To learn more about the task force and its members, click HERE.
The task force and report are made possible by a grant from The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Microsoft.
The McCain Institute works across the political spectrum to sustain and deepen democratic institutions and practices. This event is the first in a series of U.S. Democracy events to be held throughout the country this fall. Learn more about the McCain Institute’s Democracy Programs HERE.
About the McCain Institute at Arizona State University
The McCain Institute is a nonpartisan organization inspired by Senator John McCain and his family’s dedication to public service. We are part of Arizona State University and based in Washington, D.C. Our programs defend democracy, advance human rights and freedom, and empower character-driven leaders. Our unique power to convene leaders across the global political spectrum enables us to make a real impact on the world’s most pressing challenges. Our goal is action, not talk, and like Senator McCain, we are fighting to create a free, safe, and just world for all.
About Arizona State University
Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American research university, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.
