Title: Former DHS Official Launches Nonprofit to Combat Disinformation Campaigns
Nina Jankowicz, a former agency leader at the Department of Homeland Security, has re-entered the fight against disinformation with the launch of a new nonprofit organization called the American Sunlight Project. This initiative aims to counter what she describes as a coordinated campaign by conservatives and others to undermine researchers studying the sources of disinformation.
The organization, co-founded with Carlos Álvarez-Aranyos, a public-relations consultant, comes at a time when the issue of identifying and combating disinformation has become increasingly divisive, especially as the 2024 presidential election approaches. The group’s inception reflects a recognition that existing networks at major universities and research organizations have failed to effectively defend against attacks on their work.
Critics of Ms. Jankowicz have already targeted her for her efforts in this space, with the organization’s launch accompanied by a letter accusing three Republican committee chairmen in the House of Representatives of abusing their subpoena powers to silence think tanks and universities exposing disinformation sources.
The American Sunlight Project plans to run advertisements highlighting the broad threats of disinformation, produce investigative reports on groups conducting disinformation campaigns, and advocate for the research community. The organization has enlisted the expertise of political strategists and experts in national security and digital strategy to bolster its efforts.
Despite facing backlash and personal threats in the past, Ms. Jankowicz remains undeterred in her mission to combat disinformation. The American Sunlight Project, operating as a nonprofit, aims to shed light on the sources of disinformation and push back against efforts to silence researchers in this critical space.
As the battle against disinformation intensifies, the launch of the American Sunlight Project signals a renewed commitment to defending the integrity of information in the digital age.
