Some on-air claims about Dominion Voting Systems were false, Fox News acknowledges in statement after deal is announced

Fox News, the popular American conservative cable television network, has publicly acknowledged that some of the on-air comments made about Dominion Voting Systems were erroneous. This statement follows the announcement of an agreement reached between Fox News and Smartmatic, another voting technology company that had filed a $2.7 billion defamation suit against the network.

Fox News has been under scrutiny for its coverage of the 2020 Presidential election, particularly concerning claims about the integrity of Dominion Voting Systems. Some prominent hosts and guests on the network had advanced unsupported claims of widespread election fraud involving the company’s voting machines.

In a statement released on 30th April, Fox News said, “There are some claims about Dominion Voting Systems that aired on our network that we now acknowledge are untrue. The baseless assertions concerning Dominion’s role in the 2020 election were not supported by any credible evidence.”

Dominion Voting Systems, a leading provider of voting technology, was a significant target of misinformation during and after the 2020 election. False claims about the company’s voting machines altering votes were widely circulated on social media, and they played a prominent role in conspiracy theories about the election’s outcome.

The network’s statement comes after an agreement with another voting technology company, Smartmatic. Smartmatic had filed a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News, some of its hosts, and former President Donald Trump’s lawyers, Rudy Giuliani and Sydney Powell, citing “disinformation campaign” that damaged the company.

Fox News’ acknowledgment of false on-air claims about Dominion could have implications for the network’s ongoing legal battles. Dominion itself has filed lawsuits against Fox News and various individuals for promoting misinformation about the company, seeking damages of $1.6 billion from the network.

The network’s announcement is seen as a significant reversal. Fox News hosts, including Lou Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo, and Jeanine Pirro, have previously defended the network’s coverage of the 2020 election. They have argued that they were reporting on newsworthy claims made by the then President and his allies, which were a matter of significant public interest.

Fox News’ statement did not specify which on-air claims were false, nor did it specify who made them. However, the network has committed itself to “vigorously fight any false allegations made against us in court.”

The network’s retraction and acknowledgment of false claims may serve as a precedent for news outlets, showing potential consequences of airing unfounded allegations. It also highlights the growing pressure on media organizations to scrutinize the information they disseminate, particularly in the era of ‘fake news’ and widespread misinformation.

The controversy over the 2020 election coverage has already led to some significant changes at Fox News. Lou Dobbs’ show, one of the programs most vocal about election fraud claims, was canceled in February. Meanwhile, the network has been ramping up its fact-checking efforts, demonstrating a shift in its approach to news coverage.

Fox News’ admission underscores the crucial role that media organizations play in shaping public opinion and the responsibility they bear to ensure the accuracy of their reporting. As the fallout from the 2020 election continues, this incident serves as a potent reminder of the potential consequences when that responsibility is not taken seriously.