NAS has released a new statement on mis/disinformation
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CounterCurrent:
Against Disinformation Censorship
NAS has released a new statement on mis/disinformation
CounterCurrent is the National Association of Scholars’ weekly newsletter, bringing you the biggest issues in academia and our responses to them.
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Category: Intellectual Freedom, Cancel Culture; Reading Time: ~4 minutes
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** Featured Article: An NAS Statement on Mis/Disinformation ([link removed])
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Fears of censorship are "overblown ([link removed]) ," said the Guardian in 2019. Now, a few short years later, both sides of America’s political spectrum acknowledge that censorship is a problem. However, both disagree on what information should squeeze through the Overton window. Should we allow second-graders to access books containing detailed sexual acts? Should college professors be allowed to criticize university objectives such as DEI? Is the discussion of possible gain-of-function origins of the COVID-19 virus off the table?
Such debates often boil down to discussions of misinformation and disinformation, as well as when such contested information should or should not be censored. For those confused about the difference between the two, today’s featured article gives us a brief definition ([link removed]) : "[m]isinformation is simply incorrect or misleading information," while "[d]isinformation is the intentional dissemination of misinformation."
The article ([link removed]) , a position statement by the National Association of Scholars, discusses the uses and abuses of "disinformation censorship." Such censorship in higher education often occurs through labeling opinions held by professors—in which there is disagreement about a given hypothesis or theory—as mis- or disinformation in hopes of stigmatizing the “wrong” opinion. This type of censorship has real consequences beyond faculty in-fighting: it can lead toacademic cancellation and the loss of employment ([link removed]) . Even worse, the pursuit of truth is hindered when students and professors choose not to pursue research or discussion within taboo topics for fear of repercussions.
It is against this background that the NAS has decided to declare its opposition to disinformation censorship. The statement takes two forms, a full ([link removed]) version and an abbreviated ([link removed]) version. Our statement "seeks to do more than declare what we consider to be the best answers to perplexing questions, it seeks to lay out distinctions, consider arguments, and examine parallel matters."
When discussing contentious topics, it is important to establish boundaries. Censorship can be legitimate or illegitimate. Legitimate censorship might occur when someone publishes copyrighted material or libel. Such censorship is a necessary component of "civil discourse" and is distinct from the “wrongful suppression of speech.”
The full statement notes that "proponents of disinformation censorship often justify it" to protect the vulnerable and to prevent the spread of "dangerous ideas." These rationales can and do encourage the censorship of contrary ideas. Last month, a federal court in Louisiana issued a preliminary injunction ([link removed]) against the Biden administration’s attempts to coerce social media companies into removing or screening such "dangerous ideas."
The full statement places this debate within the context of K–12 and college education, asking and discussing important questions relating to the application of censorship and the purpose of education:
[. . .] at what age and grade level are students capable of the fair-minded assessment of contrary hypotheses?
[. . .] how capable are teachers of presenting the alternatives without bias?
[. . .] how can students be encouraged to pursue open-minded inquiry in the context of a society saturated with single-threaded ideologies?
How should education balance the sometimes-conflicting ideals of transmitting knowledge, challenging old ideas, discovering new possibilities, and validating novel claims?
Lastly, the full statement discusses the weaponization of disinformation censorship:
The National Association of Scholars opposes disinformation censorship because this censorship is a tool used by those who wish to preserve exclusive control over education to further their illiberal political agenda.
Disinformation censorship has already done much harm, both to the public by stigmatizing important ideas and to individuals who have faced the wrath of censors. The NAS sees disinformation censorship as a hindrance to the pursuit of truth, the protection of academic freedom, and the creation of virtuous citizens.
Until next week.
Chance Layton
Director of Communications
National Association of Scholars
Read the Full Statement ([link removed])
Read the Abbreviated Statement ([link removed])
For more on admissions, racial preferences, and issues in higher education:
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August 3, 2023
** Hacks and Henchmen: ‘Disinformation’ Means You’re Over the Target ([link removed])
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Teresa R. Manning
Honest people do not desperately try to shut others up, wringing their hands about what’s being said or posted.
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June 1, 2023
** Curtailing the Censorship Industrial Complex ([link removed])
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David Randall
When academics work to censor others, especially in cooperation with government agencies, they endanger the freedoms of all Americans.
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November 28, 2023
** Ideological Intensification ([link removed])
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Mason Goad and Bruce R. Chartwell
This report documents and quantifies the growing prevalence of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) associated language in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields in the United States.
** About the NAS
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The National Association of Scholars, founded in 1987, emboldens reasoned scholarship and propels civil debate. We’re the leading organization of scholars and citizens committed to higher education as the catalyst of American freedom.
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