Represented election workers, voters, and a postal inspector who were defamed and terrorized as part of the Big Lie conspiracy theory, and helped them spotlight the human cost of disinformation.
Safeguarding the Public Square
Our Work
Democratic decisionmaking requires a shared reality based on facts.
Without shared facts, citizens in a democracy cannot trust each other or our political leaders, or make informed voting decisions that hold our representatives accountable.
Today in the United States, the unmitigated spread of disinformation — false information deliberately spread by bad-faith actors — threatens to make too many of us apathetic, or even actively hostile, towards democratic institutions and one another.
But we have powerful tools to help stop disinformation and those who intentionally spread it. Together, we can create a healthier political discourse based on shared facts, genuine disagreement, and honest differences of opinion.
- Deter the spread of election-, voting-, and other democracy-related disinformation through litigation and other tools.
- Neutralize the biases in our information ecosystem that allow disinformation to spread more easily than facts.
- Disrupt the feedback loop that pushes elected officials toward enacting disinformation-driven policy.
Produced research to help communities of color cope with the unique disinformation challenges they face, centering their voices, experiences, and expertise across these solutions.
Impact in the News
Read more about our Law for Truth initative Read more about our Law for Truth initative
Jury in Federal Court Awards Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss $148,169,000 in Damages
Rudolph W. Giuliani owed defamed Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea’ ArShaye (“Shaye”) Moss damages after deliberately spreading lies in an effort to undermine 2020 election results.
December 15, 2023
Statement issued by Salem Media Group apologizing to Mark Andrews
On May 31, 2024, Salem Media Group issued a release (image below), stating in part “It was never our intent that the publication of the 2000 Mules film and book would harm Mr. Andrews.
May 31, 2024
Statement from Counsel for Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss on Giuliani’s Stipulation to Permanent Injunction
In an agreement filed today, Mr. Giuliani has agreed to never again accuse either Ms. Freeman or Ms. Moss of engaging in any wrongdoing in connection with the 2020 election.
May 21, 2024
The Shortlist: Seven Ways Platforms Can Prepare for the U.S. 2024 Election
Protect Democracy has produced four recommendations to inform preparations to safeguard the information ecosystem surrounding the U.S. general election.
March 12, 2024
The Shortlist: Messaging Platform Recommendations
These four recommendations will ensure messaging platforms are ready for global elections through 2024.
March 11, 2024
The Shortlist: Social Media Platform Recommendations
These four recommendations will ensure social media platforms are ready for global elections through 2024.
March 11, 2024
The Shortlist: Generative AI Platform Recommendations
These four recommendations will ensure generative AI platforms are ready for global elections through 2024.
March 11, 2024
Litigating for truth: The power and limits of defamation law
Defamation litigation is not a complete cure for what’s broken in our media ecosystem, but it can force those who spread lies to internalize some of the costs of the injuries they cause.
February 6, 2024
Stephen Richer’s Lawsuit Against Kari Lake, the Lake for Governor Campaign, and the Lake Fundraising Organization Will Proceed
Stephen Richer, the Maricopa County Recorder, has defeated motions to dismiss his defamation lawsuit against Kari Lake, the Lake for Governor Campaign, and the Lake Fundraising Organization.
December 20, 2023
Jury in Federal Court Awards Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss $148,169,000 in Damages
Rudolph W. Giuliani owed defamed Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea’ ArShaye (“Shaye”) Moss damages after deliberately spreading lies in an effort to undermine 2020 election results.
December 15, 2023
Judge Rules Against the Makers of Election-Lie-Hyping Film ‘2,000 Mules’ — Allows Case to Proceed to Discovery
Today, a federal court greenlit a lawsuit against Dinesh D’Souza and others for peddling manufactured lies that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.
October 2, 2023