Democratic-linked dark money influencer supporting ‘nonpartisan’ organization combating ‘misinformation’.

A “Misinformation” Tracker with Dark Money Connections

A “misinformation” tracker that claims to be “nonpartisan” and is partnered with Big Tech to determine trustworthy news sources has received significant support from an influential Democratic-linked dark money juggernaut, according to records.

The Trust Project, a coalition of media groups working with Microsoft and Google to inform people about trustworthy websites, is spearheading a “nonpartisan campaign” against misinformation. However, it was initially funded by the New Venture Fund, one of the largest left-leaning dark money groups in the United States, which provided over $3 million in anonymous donations between 2019 and 2021, as revealed by tax records reviewed by the Washington Examiner.

Questionable Nonpartisanship

The funding from the New Venture Fund, along with grants for “arts, culture, and humanities,” raises questions about the Trust Project’s claim of being nonpartisan. The New Venture Fund is part of Arabella Advisors, a liberal dark money network that has faced criticism from the GOP for its lack of transparency.

An unnamed spokesperson for the New Venture Fund defended their support, stating that they work with various nonpartisan projects to create a positive impact. They emphasized that the Trust Project used their platform for a quick launch and scaling before becoming an independent organization.

The Trust Project’s Influence

The Trust Project describes itself as a collaboration that receives funding from Microsoft and Google. It includes members such as the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public, which has faced scrutiny from Republicans for its disinformation tracking efforts.

Microsoft, Bing, Google, and Facebook utilize the Trust Project’s “trust indicators” and “machine-readable signals” to surface reliable stories online. One of the indicators focuses on diverse voices, suggesting that stories with diverse perspectives may be more reliable. The Trust Project encourages readers to seek evidence of journalists paying attention to diversity and avoiding stereotypical or exclusionary coverage.

Financial Backing and Leadership

The Trust Project reported over $951,000 in revenue on its 2021 tax forms. Its CEO is Sally Lehrman, a writer and former senior journalism fellow at Santa Clara University. The project’s planning began in 2014, and it received an $85,000 grant for strategic planning from Democracy Fund in 2017.

In response to concerns about nonpartisanship, Lehrman stated that the Trust Project does not label organizations as unreliable but instead partners with news outlets that demonstrate transparency, accuracy, inclusion, and fairness. She emphasized that their relationship with the New Venture Fund was strictly a grant administration arrangement.

Connections to Dark Money and Disinformation

The New Venture Fund has received at least $1 million from Democracy Fund for the Trust Project. Additionally, the Trust Project has received gifts from Facebook, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, and Democracy Fund. These financial ties have raised concerns among Republicans, who believe there is a concerted effort to censor media and individuals who do not align with progressive ideologies.

The New Venture Fund’s involvement with the Trust Project is not surprising, given its previous support for ACRONYM, a progressive media group led by Democratic strategist Tara McGowan. ACRONYM has been accused of using websites masquerading as local news to boost Democratic political candidates. McGowan now leads Good Information, a group fighting disinformation.

Questioning Objectivity

Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust, criticized the Trust Project’s objectivity, stating that it should not be determining what is legitimate and trustworthy news in America. Sutherland’s group filed a federal campaign finance complaint in 2020, alleging that Courier Newsroom, supported by ACRONYM, should register as a political action committee due to its ties to Democrats.

Microsoft declined to comment on its collaboration with the Trust Project, referring to a company blog post from January for more information.

Despite the controversy surrounding its funding and connections, the Trust Project maintains its commitment to nonpartisanship and its mission to help the public make informed news choices.