Fighting Lies In An Age Of Misinformation At SXSW

At SXSW, a riveting panel discussion unfolded on the pervasive spread of disinformation and the challenges of combating it in an era where lies travel faster than truth. The conversation, led by experts in the field, shed light on how disinformation campaigns operate, their devastating impact on individuals and democracy, and what can be done to push back.

Nina Jankowicz, a disinformation expert and former head of the short-lived Disinformation Governance Board (DGB) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), shared her personal experience of being at the center of a politically charged storm. She was recruited to help address the increasing threats posed by misinformation, both foreign and domestic. However, the board’s rollout was fumbled, leaving a vacuum that right-wing media and conspiracy theorists filled with false narratives.

Jankowicz recounted how, within hours of the board’s announcement, bad-faith actors painted her as a ‘minister of truth’ who would censor conservatives online. The viral disinformation campaign against her was relentless, spearheaded by figures like Jack Posobiec and amplified by major right-wing media outlets. The phrase “Ministry of Truth,” an Orwellian reference, took hold, cementing a false perception that DHS was overreaching into censorship.

The rapidity of the attack underscored the power of disinformation networks. “Lies are narratives,” Jankowicz explained. “And particularly on Fox. I look at lies as sort of plants that sprout in the strong ones. And the really strong ones to make it to Fox. So this one spread incredibly fast.”

The Human Cost of Disinformation

The panel delved into the deeply personal impact of such campaigns. Jankowicz described the torrent of threats and harassment she and her family endured. Despite assurances from DHS that the media cycle would move on, the attacks persisted, leading her to hire private security out of concern for her safety.

What made matters worse was the lack of institutional support. DHS failed to respond quickly with a counter-narrative, nor did they brief Congress or the public effectively. This lack of action created an unchecked opportunity for the false narrative to spread. Jankowicz pointed out that this is a recurring problem: “The right-wing has been strategically litigating in so many different ways. Not just about this issue, but so many others where we’ve got this information laundering cycle where there’s bloggers who write about quote unquote censorship behind a paywall on their substack.”

Fighting Back Through Litigation and Exposure

One of the key takeaways from the discussion was the need to increase the cost of lying. Jankowicz cited the Dominion lawsuit against Fox News, which resulted in a $787 million settlement, and the defamation case won by Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Moss against Rudy Giuliani.

Inspired by these cases, she has taken legal action against Fox News, arguing that their repeated falsehoods about her have had real-world consequences. Her organization, the American Sunlight Project, is also sending cease-and-desist letters to known purveyors of disinformation, forcing them to issue corrections.

Coordinating the Truth

One of the biggest questions raised during the panel was why there is no equivalent messaging machine on the left. While right-wing media has mastered the art of repetition and emotional storytelling, Democrats and pro-democracy groups often rely on fact-checking and policy-based rebuttals, which lack the same visceral appeal.

The panelists emphasized the need for better storytelling to counteract disinformation.

“But one thing that I hope to do is find more stories of people who have been affected by this information, who have been, you know, made unsafe, who have lost relatives to it,” Jankowicz said. “Tell those stories in a way that’s compelling and accessible. Meet people where they are not in the mainstream media and the Sunday shows. We need to be doing podcasts and live streams and all of these things more. And I think the Democrats are starting to reckon with that now.”

She also advocated for greater investment in media literacy, particularly among voting-age adults who are often the most susceptible to disinformation.

What Comes Next?

Despite the grim picture painted by the panel, there were reasons for hope. The growing push for legal accountability, the emergence of counter-disinformation initiatives, and the recognition that narratives must be fought on an emotional level all point toward a more proactive approach to combating falsehoods.

“Lying has become a political strategy,” Jankowicz concluded. “But it doesn’t have to stay that way. We can fight back—with the truth, with legal action, and with better storytelling.”

“I think this goes back to storytelling. The Democrats really shy away from storytelling. They’re the adults in the room. They’re like, let’s bring this back to policy,” Jankowicz concluded. “The other side is not talking about policy. They had concepts of a plan about healthcare, right? People aren’t voting on policy anymore. They’re, they’re voting about how people make them feel.”