CM
HIGHUKAdded 2024-03-10
Clare Melford
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Global Disinformation Index (GDI)
Freedom Threat Index80%
SEVERE THREAT TO SPEECH FREEDOM
Profile
British co-founder of the Global Disinformation Index, a UK-based NGO that produces risk ratings of news websites ostensibly to guide programmatic advertising away from "disinformation" sources. GDI received US State Department and USAGM funding. A 2023 investigation revealed GDI's ratings systematically downgraded conservative and heterodox outlets while favouring establishment media — effectively operating as a defunding mechanism for disfavoured political viewpoints.
Key Actions & Positions
Created GDI's "Dynamic Exclusion List" — a blocklist used by ad-tech companies to defund targeted outlets
GDI received US government funding via USAGM's Open Technology Fund and State Department grants
Rated conservative outlets including Washington Examiner and NY Post as high disinformation risk; rated left-leaning outlets as low risk
GDI model used by advertisers to withdraw revenue from outlets without any editorial engagement
Congressional investigations (2023) scrutinised GDI's government funding and political methodology
Tags
disinformationad-defundingmedia-ratingscensorship-by-proxy
Linked Incidents (1)
← Back to Censorship AdvocatesSource: Public Records