‘UK government-linked ‘Disinformation’ tracker accused of censorship: Unveiling ‘Dark arts’.’

Affiliations of ⁢Disinformation Tracker Linked to British Government

A self-proclaimed “disinformation” tracker, ⁤accused by​ Republicans​ of censoring conservative voices⁢ online, has revealed ties with‍ the‌ British ⁤government, according to records. House ‌Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) subpoenaed the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) ​as part of⁢ his investigation ‍into “censorship.” The CCDH,⁣ a US charity with a London-based arm, has been ​cited by the White House as an expert in ⁣combating disinformation. However, watchdog groups have raised concerns about ‌the CCDH’s board ‍of directors, which includes British politicians and officials.

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“The CCDH has‌ become a ⁣go-to organization for the government to ​justify censoring⁢ conservative ‌content,” said‍ Tom ⁤Jones,‍ president of‌ the American⁢ Accountability Foundation. ⁤He expressed concern over the Biden administration giving influence to an ⁢entity affiliated with a ⁣foreign government, potentially​ impacting‌ American civil liberties.

The⁤ Biden administration and‍ Facebook have collaborated closely in combating alleged COVID-19 disinformation. In 2021,⁤ the US government even sent posts to Facebook that‌ were linked to the ⁤CCDH’s “Disinformation Dozen” report, which identified social media‍ accounts spreading falsehoods about the coronavirus.

The CCDH was established in the UK in‌ 2018, with its founder and ​CEO being Imran Ahmed, a⁤ former senior political adviser. The organization has ​faced scrutiny, including a lawsuit from X‍ (formerly ⁣Twitter), which accused the CCDH of making false claims about hate speech on the platform after Elon Musk’s takeover in 2022.

The CCDH’s mission is to combat online hate and disinformation through research, campaigns, and policy advocacy. It has ⁤presented evidence to the British Parliament on social media regulations and supported an amendment to require advertisers to disclose which domains carry their content, aiming to combat climate denial, anti-vaxx propaganda, political misinformation, incel ideology,⁢ and racial hatred.

Notably, Damian Collins, a conservative member of⁣ Parliament, is listed as a board member of the CCDH. Collins previously chaired the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and ​Sport Select Committee and served ‌as a⁤ parliamentary ‍undersecretary of state for tech and the digital economy in the British government. Kirsty McNeill, another board member, worked as a strategy director for former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. ⁤Matthew Gould, also a board member, served as the British ambassador to Israel and‌ held senior roles in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the UK’s Department of Health and Social⁤ Care.

Stephen Miller, president⁢ of the conservative​ group America First Legal, ​called ​for legislation to prevent foreign entities from interfering ⁤in ​American ​elections and censoring free speech. Recent board members of the ‍CCDH include Lord Jonathan⁢ Oates, a liberal British‌ politician, and⁣ Morgan ‌McSweeney, campaign director for the‍ Labour Party.

The CCDH has faced criticism for‌ its⁣ alleged ⁣influence on the ⁣White House’s response to COVID-19 disinformation. Former UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, now-president of Meta’s global affairs, corresponded ⁤with the White House regarding the CCDH’s Disinformation Dozen report.

The CCDH ⁢has not responded to requests for comment, and the House Judiciary Committee has ‍given them a ​deadline to respond to ⁢their⁤ subpoena. Critics, such as Mike Benz from⁢ the Foundation for Freedom Online, have ⁢accused the CCDH of being⁣ a conduit for British national security and intelligence agency agendas.

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A source close to the House Judiciary Committee revealed that the CCDH has until September 29 to respond to ⁣the subpoena, which requests⁣ communications between the Executive Branch and CCDH,⁤ internal CCDH communications discussing Executive Branch communications, and ‍CCDH communications with third ⁢parties potentially working ​with ⁣the Executive Branch.

“The Center for Countering Digital Hate ‌is a conduit for⁤ laundering British national security state and intelligence ⁣agency agenda items⁣ through dark arts political operations,” said Mike Benz, head of the⁤ censorship watchdog ‌Foundation for Freedom Online and a former ‌Trump State Department ⁢official.

What concerns have been raised about ‌the objectivity and impartiality⁤ of the CCDH due ​to its affiliations with the British government ​and board members with political backgrounds?

In light of ⁤these affiliations, concerns​ have been raised about‍ the⁤ objectivity‌ and impartiality ​of the ‌CCDH. Critics argue that the organization’s ties to ⁤the British government and its board members who have political⁣ backgrounds could potentially bias its efforts in combating disinformation.

The CCDH has ‍gained⁢ attention for ‍its “Disinformation Dozen” report, which identifies social media accounts spreading falsehoods about the ⁢coronavirus. While the report’s intentions may be well-intentioned, questions have been raised about the methodology and‌ criteria used⁤ to identify these accounts. Some argue that the criteria may⁣ be subjective and that the targeting of specific voices can result in⁣ suppression of dissenting opinions.

Furthermore, the collaboration between the CCDH and the Biden ⁣administration ⁢in combating ‌alleged COVID-19‌ disinformation raises concerns about potential ⁢government interference in free speech. As Tom‌ Jones,⁣ president of ​the American Accountability Foundation, pointed⁤ out, giving influence to⁣ an organization affiliated with a foreign government could have implications for American civil⁢ liberties.

The lawsuit filed against ‍the CCDH by X (formerly Twitter) also raises doubts about the organization’s credibility. Accusations of false claims about⁤ hate speech on the platform undermine⁢ the organization’s reputation and‍ raise questions about​ its accuracy in identifying and ⁣combating disinformation.

Despite these concerns, the CCDH has presented itself as an expert in combating disinformation, providing evidence to⁤ the British Parliament and advocating for social‍ media​ regulations. Its efforts to combat climate denial,​ anti-vaxx propaganda, ‌political misinformation, incel ideology, and racial hatred have been praised by ⁤some who see​ a need for stronger measures against these issues.

However, the involvement of board members​ with ⁤political backgrounds, such as Damian Collins and⁤ Kirsty‍ McNeill, raises the ⁢question ⁣of potential bias in the organization’s work. Should an organization aiming to combat disinformation have individuals with political affiliations on its board? ‍This question remains unanswered ⁤but⁣ highlights the need‌ for transparency and independent oversight in the fight against disinformation.

In ⁤conclusion, the affiliations of the Center for Countering Digital Hate with the British government, as well as the composition of its board, have raised concerns about ⁤its ‌objectivity and impartiality⁤ in combating disinformation. ​Critics argue that these affiliations may undermine the organization’s credibility and potentially result in the suppression ⁤of certain voices. As the fight against disinformation continues, it is crucial to ensure transparency, ‌independence, and ⁣a commitment to protecting freedom of speech ⁢and⁤ civil ⁢liberties.