Fox News, the American media giant, has agreed to pay a $787m settlement over a defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems, an election technology company, over its coverage of the 2020 United States presidential election. Dominion filed the lawsuit in 2021, alleging that Fox News knowingly aired falsehoods about its voting machines to boost viewership, following claims by former President Donald Trump and his allies that Dominion’s voting machines were used to rig the election in favour of President Joe Biden. The voting machine company initially sought $1.6bn from Fox for “intentionally and falsely blaming Dominion for President Trump’s loss.”
The settlement marks a major win for Dominion, which maintained that it was unfairly targeted by Fox News, which enjoyed a massive viewership and influenced the public narrative during the 2020 election. Meanwhile, Fox News maintained that it was only reporting on Trump’s allegations and that its coverage was protected under constitutional free speech rights.
Judge Eric Davis of the Delaware Superior Court on Tuesday informed the selected 12-member jury that the parties had resolved their case. Dominion disclosed the settlement figure on Tuesday, and its lawyer, Justin Nelson, said the settlement “represents vindication and accountability” and that “lies have consequences”. Dominion lawyers, however, declined to answer questions about whether Fox News would apologise publicly or make reforms.
The settlement represents a significant amount, with Fox News paying one of the highest amounts ever to settle a defamation lawsuit. It highlights the importance of responsible journalism and the consequences of spreading misinformation. While freedom of speech is a fundamental right, journalists and media outlets must be held accountable for their actions, especially in matters that could undermine public confidence in democratic institutions.
