In a landmark settlement, Fox Corp. and its cable networks have agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787.5 million to settle a defamation lawsuit over false claims during the 2020 US presidential election. The lawsuit accused Fox News of knowingly pushing false conspiracy theories that the election technology company had rigged the election against former President Donald Trump.
According to NPR, the settlement averted a trial in the blockbuster defamation suit, which could have been a boon for either side. While Dominion Voting Systems could have potentially won billions of dollars in damages and made a precedent-setting ruling against media outlets that spread misinformation, a win for Fox News would have likely emboldened other right-wing media outlets to continue making baseless claims about the election being stolen.
As The Atlantic reported, Fox News may have lost the lawsuit, but it won the war. The network’s continued promotion of false election claims helped boost its ratings, and the settlement will ultimately be a small price to pay to retain its audience. Fox News will continue to be a leading conservative voice in media and politics, even as the country grapples with the lingering effects of the 2020 election.
The Washington Post noted that Fox News agreed to pay the settlement shortly before opening arguments were set to begin, avoiding the risk of an even larger payout in the case. The settlement is likely to have a sweeping impact across the rest of the media industry, as other outlets that also pushed the false election conspiracy theories face the possibility of similar lawsuits.
Overall, the Dominion lawsuit marks a turning point in the battle against misinformation and propaganda in the media. With the settlement, Dominion Voting Systems has made a powerful statement that they will not tolerate lies and defamation, and that holding media outlets accountable for their actions is paramount to preserving the integrity of democracy itself.
