The First Amendment is a vulnerability that opens the United States to an onslaught of ‘disinformation,’ MSNBC legal analyst Barbara McQuade has argued. Promoting her new book, Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America, McQuade was questioned by Rachel Maddow regarding the susceptibility of the United States to so-called ‘disinformation‘ relative to other nations.
McQuade said the legal right to free speech in the U.S. posed a potential threat to the country’s democracy. “Actually, Rachel, I think we’re more susceptible to it than other countries, and that’s because some of our greatest strengths can also be our Achilles heel,” McQuade said.
The former U.S. Attorney, appointed by Barack Obama, claimed there were nuances when considering free speech and its ‘unintended consequences.‘ She explained that despite the cherished nature of free speech and its importance in democracy, the reflexive reaction to any attempts at regulation is dismissed as censorship, thereby contributing to America’s vulnerability. McQuade also referenced the Supreme Court’s stance that permits limitations on fundamental rights, including free speech, under specific conditions deemed important by the government.
Furthermore, McQuade voiced her belief that the U.S. needs more constructive conversations and practical solutions to combat the issue of ‘disinformation.’ She expressed concern over the rampant use of political labels and the retreat to positional ‘extremes’ when discussing censorship and limiting First Amendment rights. In addition to her media roles, McQuade is a law professor at the University of Michigan.
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