By
Chris Teale
May 18, 2022 at 6:00 am ET
The Department of Homeland Security’s proposed board to fight disinformation about U.S. border policies and elections on social media and elsewhere has generated controversy in some quarters since it first came to light. But according to the latest Morning Consult/Politico survey, at least half of voters support the board’s mission in both areas, as do social media users.
Republican lawmakers have pushed back hard against the creation of a disinformation board, with letters to DHS objecting to it and by introducing legislation that would block its creation and defund related efforts at the agency.
Lawmakers have alleged that the board’s function is too vague, while another letter from more than 170 House Republicans said they have “ethical concerns about an organization charged with securing the homeland engaging in anything that could have an impact on speech.”
DHS noted in its fact sheet that the disinformation board proposal was established “with the explicit goal” of protecting free speech and civil liberties, and ensuring that “rigorous safeguards” are in place.
The May 13-16, 2022, survey was conducted among a representative sample of 2,005 registered voters, with an unweighted margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.