Data, truth, and control: The battle over public research

Anti-scientific obscurantism is a crucial step in the establishment of authoritarian regimes

In just two weeks, Musk has set in motion the dismantling of the U.S. public research system, with incalculable and lasting consequences for American interests and global well-being.

USAID, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOOA) and other institutions targeted so far are only the beginning. Much of the invaluable data produced by the U.S. administration is already inaccessible to researchers and the public. Universities are not safe either and will soon face growing threats and likely restrictions. Let’s not forget Vice President J.D. Vance’s slogans: 'Universities are the enemy,' 'Professors are the enemy,' 'We must aggressively attack the universities.'

Anti-scientific obscurantism is a key step in the rise of authoritarian regimes—not just because it fuels resentment among those seeking revenge against experts or denial among those escaping reality. More importantly, if experts are discredited by propaganda and data that describe reality and allow researchers and fact-checkers to assess policies are no longer available (or even cease to exist), then facts themselves become malleable at will. Reality can be reshaped. And when a regime controls the most powerful disinformation tools—starting with social media—it gains unprecedented control over public perception and reality itself.

Consider the consequences of losing all access to independent, public data on vaccines, disease prevalence, and epidemic spread —once provided by the CDC, NIH, and CMS. Or on poverty, income, inequality, discrimination, crime rates, victims' profiles, climate change, and its effects— keywords that the new U.S. administration has banned—now unspeakable without risking lost research funding or even one’s job.

When scientific narratives can be dismissed as lies—because expert credibility has been eroded and access to real data is blocked—any counter-narrative, no matter how absurd, can take hold. The more a counter-narrative clashes with expert consensus and offers simplistic explanations or magical solutions—no matter how false—the more seductive it becomes.

Climate change is a hoax; we don’t need to worry about it. Poverty doesn’t exist—or only affects those unwilling to work. Inequality is deserved. Immigrants bring crime and disease. Trans people cause planes to crash. Diversity implies antisocial behavior, and discrimination is necessary. Ethnic cleansing is an acceptable conflict resolution method. Infectious diseases are lab-made, and vaccines are harmful. Education is useless, and those who study—experts—are corrupt.

These are all highly seductive messages for people who lack the means or incentives to dig deeper—or simply don’t want to think about the future. And like all seductive things, anti-scientific obscurantism fuels public support—alongside fear and resentment, emotions that propaganda systematically cultivates.

Europe Is Not Safe

Europe is far from safe. The issue is not just the consequences of the American administration’s reckless policies. The most immediate and insidious threat is contagion. Populists are already strong—and, in some cases, in power. Trump and Musk’s disinformation machine has been serving them for years. European institutions—though weakened and incomplete—remain one of the last barriers.

This is why populist propaganda has been targeting the EU for so long. Consider this: only EU institutions have the power to regulate social media owned by oligarchs. That’s why Zuckerberg personally lobbied Trump to counteract European regulations.

Strengthening the European Union beyond monetary and fiscal policy should be a top priority. But it is nowhere on the agenda of most European governments – —particularly in Italy, where a right-wing populist government is in power.

For us citizens, it may seem difficult to counter this rising tide. But recognizing it and preparing for it is already a step forward.