The Cybersecurity Agency and US infrastructure protection (CISA) have changed their approach in the fight against misinformation in elections. Director Jen Isterley announced that CISA will no longer engage in discussions with social platforms regarding the deletion or moderation of posts related to elections.
Instead, CISA will focus on collaborating with technology companies and platforms to discuss services and safety measures for local elections, shifting the emphasis towards protecting election infrastructure from general threats.
Previously, CISA was involved in tracking and labeling false information on platforms, but Isterley confirmed that this is no longer within the agency’s responsibilities. She stated, “We do not participate in discussions about content removal, as it is not our role.”
This decision comes in response to various lawsuits alleging government overreach in content moderation. By the 2022 election, CISA had ceased all interactions with social networks regarding disinformation.
While CISA remains committed to combatting misinformation, its focus is now on providing citizens with information from trusted sources, such as local election commissions. Senior adviser Kate Conley believes this new approach is more effective than the previous one, which she likened to a game of whack-a-mole, where false posts were taken down only for new ones to reappear.
An incident in New Hampshire involving a false tweet attributed to President Joe Biden was swiftly addressed by state authorities, highlighting the importance of quick responses to misinformation.
In conclusion, CISA has shifted its focus to educating voters and promoting reliable information, stepping back from actively deleting false information on platforms.