Russian Influence Operations Exacerbate Need for DSOSA

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, published a new fact sheet on how the need for the Digital Services Oversight and Safety Act (DSOSA) has been exacerbated by Russia's disinformation campaign designed to justify Vladimir Putin's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

In the months leading up to the movement of Russian troops over Ukraine's border, Russian influence operations kicked into high gear pushing varying and flawed justifications for the increased aggression against their neighbors. The coordinated influence operations were so active that it alarmed government officials, company leaders, and experts alike, even prompting a U.S. State Department response. Just over a week into the war, the disinformation campaign is now being targeted directly by international sanctions and ad hoc company measures.

Although these actions are rightfully addressing specific components of Russia's disinformation assault, experts continue to highlight several challenges that must be addressed through legislation. Rather than relying on all online platforms to address systemic risks on their services preemptively or act in the best interests of a nation under siege, DSOSA offers a more sustainable approach.

The fact sheet released today explains how DSOSA specifically describes coordinated influence operations as a systemic risk and incentivizes companies to put processes in place prior to conflict and work with researchers and public interest groups to build a better understanding of influence operations in real time. Under this legislation, platforms would also be required to assess the potential for their platform to be used for coordinated disinformation campaigns and document the processes they have in place to mitigate those attacks. Companies would also be required to share critical data about influence operations as well as a host of other issues with certified independent researchers, including disinformation experts.

DSOSA, which was featured in a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing earlier this week, is designed to create capacity to better understand online platforms and systemic risks, and to hold platforms accountable to the promises they make to consumers and advertisers. Foreign influence operations are only one systemic risk platforms face, but comprehensive transparency legislation is essential to identifying and addressing these threats directly.

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