March 24, 2021
Carson
City, NV –Nevada Attorney
General Aaron D. Ford is honored to be appointed to a six month commission by
the Aspen Institute to deliver recommendations for how the country can respond
to the modern-day crisis of faith in key institutions.AG Ford will be joined
in this effort by 14 other commissioners from across the political spectrum.
Developed and hosted by the Aspen Digital
program, the “Commission on Information Disorder” will be co-chaired by three
leading public figures, each with unique perspectives on society’s urgent mis
and disinformation challenge, including renowned journalist Katie Couric;
cybersecurity expert Chris Krebs, the founding director of DHS’s Cybersecurity
and Infrastructure Security Agency, racial equity leader Rashad Robinson, the
president of Color Of Change, and Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex.
“Through telephones, televisions, radios, and
the Internet, there are countless ways to send and receive news,” said AG
Ford. “Every single day, we’re bombarded with stories and facts that we
often accept as true without any fact checking. This committee is all about
pushing back on those narratives and educating the public about critical pieces
of misinformation, like the safety of elections, the science behind the
COVID-19 vaccine and other mainstream issues. I’m honored to represent Nevadans
and be a part of this national conversation.”
Through its work, the Commission will wrestle
with the impact and problem of mis and disinformation across all aspects of
modern society, from the 2020 election and vaccine safety, to the ongoing risk
to communities of color, to threats from state and non-state actors. The effort
grew out of a need identified by the Aspen Cybersecurity Group, the institute’s
public-private forum on technology threats.
Beginning in April, the Commission will meet
regularly over the next six months. It will also host a series of briefings
from a range of experts to understand the scope of the problem and identify the
gaps that exist in the ability of government, the technological platforms, and
civil society to address what First Draft Co-Founder Claire Wardle has termed
“information disorder.” These briefings will cover the history, rise, and
current threat of disinformation; the intersection of disinformation and
marginalized communities; the challenge of civic education and literacy; the societal
decline of trust in institutions; the First Amendment and the effects of
Section 230; and the growing challenge of mis- and disinformation campaigns
against private industry and companies; among other core topics. These expert
briefings will be recorded and made available to the public through the
Commission website, along with the reading materials provided to commissioners.
Additionally, the Commission will establish a
Technology Advisory Committee to provide expert advice and consultation to members
over the course of their deliberations.
To learn more about the Aspen Institute or the
commission, click here.
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