House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., has announced an investigation into NewsGuard. The inquiry will examine the company’s influence on First Amendment speech and any potential sponsorship by federal, state, local, or foreign governments. Comer requested documents from NewsGuard co-CEOs Steven Brill and Gordon Crovitz related to their contracts with federal agencies and how they maintain impartiality, according to The Hill.
Comer stated that the committee’s concern is not with NewsGuard’s business model of providing data-based analysis to clients but with possible governmental interference in free speech. NewsGuard asserts it evaluates news sources based on reliability, using a scale from 0 to 100. It claims to assess sites on their history of publishing false information, distinction between opinion and news, use of misleading headlines, disclosure of financing and ownership, and conflict of interest transparency.
Critics argue that NewsGuard displays bias, particularly favoring liberal media over conservative outlets. Co-founder Brill is noted for his long-standing ties and donations to Democratic candidates, while Crovitz is a registered Democrat with connections to Human Rights Watch, an organization advocating for progressive causes.
The Media Research Center (MRC) has published studies suggesting NewsGuard rates liberal sources higher than conservative ones. MRC President Brent Bozell has accused NewsGuard of attempting to censor conservative voices. Elon Musk, owner of X, has also criticized NewsGuard, labeling it a “scam” and urging its disbandment. He claims that NewsGuard’s ratings are used by advertisers to limit ads on platforms like X and conservative outlets, effectively suppressing their content.
In response, Crovitz emphasized that NewsGuard’s work with the Pentagon focuses on countering disinformation from foreign adversaries. He maintains that NewsGuard is an impartial service providing balanced ratings across the political spectrum. Comer’s committee will also investigate the transparency of NewsGuard’s operations and potential conflicts of interest that could affect the public interest.
