In a high-profile defamation case, Fox News was sued by a voting technology company, Smartmatic, for spreading false claims about the company’s role in the 2020 US presidential election.
Smartmatic accused Fox News of deliberately spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories about the company with efforts to cater to former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims of widespread voter fraud.
The lawsuit was filed in New York State Court in February 2021, and Smartmatic seeks $2.7 billion in damages for the harm done to the company’s business and reputation.
“Fox News Used its anchors and on-air personalities to spread lies and disinformation about Smartmatc,” said J. Erik Connolly, Smartmatic’s lawyer. “The damage to our client’s reputation and business has been devastating.”
Fox News denied all allegations and vows to fight against the lawsuit in earnest.
In an official statement, the network said: “Fox News Media is committed to providing the full context of every story with in-depth reporting and clear opinion. We are proud of our 2020 election coverage and will vigorously defend this meritless lawsuit in court.
Notably, the case draws attention to the role of the media in spreading false information and claims about elections which may only aim to harm the public’s ability to make well informed decisions
“Misinformation poses a fundamental threat to democracy. When people can’t agree on basic facts they can’t have a reasoned debate or make informed decisions,” said Tim Berners Lee, founder of the World Wide Web.

Notable figures from both sides of the case weighed in on the controversy. For example, Rudy Giuliani, who was a key figure in Trump’s efforts to overturn the election results has been named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Giuliani appeared on Fox News numerous times to promote false claims about Smartmatic and the election.
Giuliani dismissed the lawsuit as “baseless” and “political,” and vowed to fight it in court.
Meanwhile, prominent media figures and legal experts examine the case, criticizing Fox News for its role in spreading false information about the 2020 election.
CNN’s Brian Stetler said in a recent segment: “The fact that Smartmatic has to sue Fox NEws is a sign of how broken our information ecosystem is. We have a far-right propaganda network that is more concerned with pleasing its viewers than telling the truth.”
The case continues to develop and legal experts say it could have significant implications for the media and the fight against misinformation in the United States.