Media lies threaten the truth and decency on which democracy depends

Last month, Fox, a business controlled by Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan, agreed to pay $787.5mn to Dominion Voting Systems to settle the latter’s $1.6bn defamation case against it. Justin Nelson, Dominion’s lawyer, insisted in response to this settlement that it shows that “the truth matters” and “lies have consequences”. This is true, but only to a limited extent.

The business model revealed in startling detail in exchanges among Fox executives and stars depends on giving its viewers the red meat they want. If that includes falsehoods, so be it. Asked whether he could have told the top people at Fox to stop putting Rudy Giuliani (one of the most assiduous promoters of lies about the 2020 US election) on air, Rupert Murdoch replied “I could have. But I didn’t.” His inaction revealed all.