In pursuit of ignorance: The institutional assault on disinformation and hate speech research

Abstract

This article examines ongoing efforts to discourage disinformation and hate speech research in the U.S. These initiatives originate from a variety of institutional actors, including digital platforms, congressional committees, state attorneys general, and advocacy organizations. It employs the conceptual framework of agnotology, which refers to the study of deliberate culturally or politically induced ignorance. Through an analysis of over 1,800 pages of primary documents, it identifies the strategic approaches employed, the outcomes, and the broader democratic implications associated with these efforts to create and maintain knowledge gaps in the disinformation and hate speech arenas.