The Disinformation Index Foundation (DIF), also known as the AN Foundation, is an American component of Global Disinformation Index (GDI), a London-based think tank focused on combatting alleged disinformation on online news sites. According to GDI, “brands unwittingly provide an estimated quarter of a billion dollars annually to disinformation websites. 1
Tax Disclosure Controversy
In April 2023, Disinformation Index Foundation and its sister-group, Disinformation Index Inc., released a redacted version of their 2021 tax returns due to an alleged “harassment campaign” carried out against the groups, which claim to have received “multiple threats and hacking attacks, including threats of violence against their children.” According to lawyers interviewed by the Washington Examiner, the groups’ claim did not legally warrant concealing information on their public tax disclosures. The redacted information includes the names of officers and directors, a phone number, and the source of a $115,000 donation. 2
Finances
From 2019 to 2020, the Disinformation Index Foundation’s revenue jumped from $19,612 to $569,219. 3 The organization’s 2021 revenue fell to $367,228. 4
AI Ethics Initiative Challenge
In December 2018, the Disinformation Index Foundation was one of 66 finalists out of over 500 applications in the AI Ethics Initiative’s AI and the News Open Challenge. DIF’s project submission was a proposal to create a disinformation rating system for digital websites and platforms. 5
References
- “Defunding Disinformation.” Global Disinformation Index. Accessed Aptil 16, 2023. https://www.disinformationindex.org/mission/#:~:text=Brands%20unwittingly%20provide%20an%20estimated,risk%20across%20the%20open%20web.
- Kaminsky, Greg. “‘Disinformation’ network blacklisting conservative news hides tax forms over ‘harassment’.” April 12, 2023. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/disinformation-inc-network-blacklisting-conservative-news-hides-tax-forms-harassment.
- “Disinformation Index Foundation.” ProPublica. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/832235831.
- “Disinformation Index Foundation (AN Foundation) 2021 990 (1) (2).” Scribd. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://www.scribd.com/document/636388675/Disinformation-Index-Foundation-an-Foundation-2021-990-1-2#.
- “Meet the 66 finalists in the AI and the News Open Challenge.” AI Ethicist Initiative. December 4, 2018. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://aiethicsinitiative.org/news/2018/12/3/meet-the-66-finalists-in-the-ai-and-the-news-open-challenge.