The House Oversight Committee recently announced an investigation into NewsGuard, a news-rating system that ranks the trustworthiness of news outlets. The focus of the probe is whether NewsGuard’s contracts with federal agencies influence the news it attempts to suppress.
Oversight Chair James Comer expressed concerns about NewsGuard’s impact on free speech and its potential role as a censor. He requested documents from NewsGuard’s CEOs regarding the group’s relationships with government entities, adherence to bias policies, conflict of interest management, and actions that may delegitimize factual information.
One of the main concerns is NewsGuard’s Department of Defense contract, which raises questions about federal agencies’ involvement in censorship campaigns. Comer highlighted the importance of determining if NewsGuard’s intervention on protected speech is sponsored by any government entity.
Comer also pointed out discrepancies in NewsGuard’s pledge that editorial employees refrain from political activities. Several individuals listed as editorial staff have social media accounts that raise doubts about NewsGuard’s commitment to anti-bias efforts.
NewsGuard has reportedly received significant funding from the federal government, mainly from the Department of Defense. The group also won a prize for participating in a State Department co-sponsored challenge on COVID-19 misinformation.
Advertisers use NewsGuard to target niche audiences or avoid networks that spread misinformation. The Committee is concerned about government involvement in free expression and the need for transparency in managing conflicts of interest that impact the public good.
Comer criticized NewsGuard for potentially censoring conservative media outlets while giving favorable ratings to networks like MSNBC and CNN. He questioned the criteria used by NewsGuard and raised concerns about bias in the rating system.
NewsGuard employs journalists and editors to rate news sources based on journalistic criteria. Comer requested various documents from NewsGuard, including contracts with government entities and disciplinary actions related to editorial employee pledge violations.
The deadline for submitting the requested documents to the Committee is June 27, 2024. The investigation into NewsGuard’s influence on free speech and potential censorship campaigns continues, with a focus on ensuring transparency and protecting the public’s right to access factual information.