Quick Hit:

The Biden administration is weighing the creation of an “information czar” role within national security to address foreign disinformation about U.S. elections and other sensitive topics, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed Thursday.

Key Details:

The potential “information czar” would be responsible for overseeing responses to disinformation from foreign sources, especially around election times.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan described ongoing discussions among intelligence and defense agencies, citing the need for an approach insulated from partisan politics.
The Biden administration’s earlier attempt to establish a “Disinformation Governance Board” was abandoned in 2022 after backlash over free speech concerns.

Diving Deeper:

The Biden administration is actively debating the establishment of a national “information czar” to counter foreign disinformation threats, according to National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. Speaking at the National Defense University, Sullivan revealed that this concept has been discussed across intelligence and defense agencies but emphasized the challenge of implementing such a role in a politically neutral manner.

This initiative would represent another attempt by the administration to centralize efforts against foreign influence operations, which officials claim are aimed at destabilizing U.S. democratic processes. Sullivan suggested that a single “czar” might offer an advantage in streamlining efforts across multiple agencies while reducing the risk of partisan influence on disinformation strategies. “We’re a democracy,” he said, highlighting that the U.S. cannot combat disinformation using authoritarian tactics, adding, “We can’t do that.”

This push to address disinformation comes two years after the Biden administration’s failed attempt to create a Disinformation Governance Board under the Department of Homeland Security. The board, headed by Nina Jankowicz, faced swift public backlash and was disbanded amid concerns that it threatened free speech and First Amendment protections. Since then, government officials, including Sullivan, have continued seeking ways to curb foreign influence operations without infringing upon civil liberties.

The administration’s recent National Security Memorandum on artificial intelligence has also added urgency to the debate. This policy outlines how agencies should manage AI-related risks, which Sullivan noted can be exploited by hostile powers to manipulate the political landscape through misinformation. Sullivan suggested that any potential “information czar” would play a significant role in managing these AI-driven disinformation campaigns, particularly as the 2024 election cycle heats up.