The Biden administration’s creation of its new Disinformation Governance Board has been equated to the “Ministry of Truth” in George Orwell’s novel 1984.
But during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday, Mayorkas sought to reassure Americans about the board’s mission.
Host Dana Bash asked, “Can you clarify what exactly is this? What exactly will this Disinformation Governance Board do? Will it monitor American citizens?”
Mayorkas described the board as a “small working group,” and acknowledged that the administration could have “done a better job of communicating what it does and does not do.”
“The fact is that disinformation that creates a threat to the security of the homeland is our responsibility to address, and this department has been addressing it for years,” he continued.
Specifically, Mayorkas pointed out disinformation from Russia, China, and Iran.
Watch the video below:
"Will American citizens be monitored?"
— CNN (@CNN) May 1, 2022
"No."
CNN's @/DanaBashCNN presses Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the department creating a disinformation governance board that he says is meant to "address the threat of foreign state adversaries." @CNNSotu #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/JLDNnbtsc7
However, Bash interjected, “We know the problems, but it’s still not clear to me how this governance board will act.”
“What will it do?” she asked.
The secretary said, “It works to ensure that the way in which we address threats, the connectivity between threats and acts of violence, are addressed without infringing on free speech. Protecting civil rights and civil liberties, the right of privacy.”
Mayorkas also denied that Americans will be monitored by the board.
“The board does not have any operational authority or capability,” he explained. “What it will do is gather together best practices in addressing the threat of disinformation from foreign state adversaries, from the cartels, and disseminate those best practices to the operators that have been addressing this threat for years.
Bash also asked about the board’s controversial head, Nina Jankowicz, and whether she is “neutral.”
“[She is] eminently qualified, a renowned expert in the field of disinformation,” Mayorkas responded.
He also said Jankowicz is “absolutely” neutral.
Conservatives have criticized the decision to choose Jankowicz to lead the board as they point to old tweets from her raising doubts about a New York Post story based on information from Hunter Biden’s laptop ahead of the 2020 presidential election.