Anti-disinformation guardrails tumble

WASHINGTON: From slashed federal funding for disinformation research to the closure of a key agency combating foreign influence operations, the United States has dismantled vital guardrails against falsehoods within President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office.

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The moves could have national security implications, experts warn, granting US adversaries such as Russia and China more freedom to sow disinformation as geopolitical rivalries intensify.

Combined with online platforms scaling back content moderation — and Meta's suspension of third-party fact-checking in the US — these developments have left researchers concerned that it may become even harder for the public to separate fact from fiction.

The National Science Foundation recently cancelled hundreds of research grants that it said were "not aligned" with the agency's priorities, including projects focused on diversity, equity and inclusion as well as misinformation and disinformation.

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, charged with cutting government spending, praised the NSF's "great work" in cancelling 402 "wasteful" DEI grants a move the agency said saved $233 million.