GOP questions Biden official on funding for conservative ‘disinformation’ blacklist group.
Republicans Confront Biden Official Over Funding “Disinformation” Group
A top Biden administration official faced tough questioning from Republicans in a congressional hearing regarding the U.S. government’s funding of a “disinformation” group that is depriving conservative media of advertising dollars.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee, led by the GOP, is considering not reauthorizing the Global Engagement Center (GEC), an interagency housed within the State Department. An investigation by the Washington Examiner revealed that the GEC provided $100,000 to the Global Disinformation Index (GDI), a British think tank that feeds blacklists of conservative websites to advertisers in order to silence disfavored speech.
Labeling Right-Leaning News Outlets
GDI has faced scrutiny from members of Congress for labeling right-leaning news outlets, including the New York Post, Washington Examiner, Daily Caller, and Reason, as purveyors of “disinformation.” During the hearing, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) questioned GEC Acting Coordinator Daniel Kimmage about the New York Post being labeled as a source of disinformation.
“The Global Engagement Center does not do any work domestically and we don’t have any position on any U.S. media outlets at all,” Kimmage responded.
Issa then asked about other blacklisted outlets, such as RealClearPolitics and Daily Wire, to which Kimmage reiterated that the GEC does not work in the U.S. media environment.
Concerns Over Funding GDI
Issa further questioned Kimmage about the GEC’s funding of GDI. The British group had received approximately $860,000 from the State Department-backed National Endowment for Democracy before the organization cut ties with GDI.
Kimmage clarified that the GEC had an arrangement with GDI to conduct specific work in six languages other than English, focusing on Russian and Chinese narratives. He emphasized that this work was limited in duration and unrelated to U.S. media.
Later in the hearing, Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) raised concerns about GDI’s labeling of news outlets as “risky” or “nonrisky.” He questioned whether there was an institutional bias among third-party organizations hired to do this work.
Addressing Institutional Bias
Mast highlighted that some news outlets labeled as “nonrisky” by GDI were perpetuating false information, such as the recent claim that Israel bombed a hospital in Gaza. He questioned whether any of the GEC’s third-party partners were involved in spreading such falsehoods.
Kimmage explained that the GEC has a process to select partners and that they do not engage in domestic discussions or address U.S. policy. He emphasized that the GEC does not have control over the actions of its third-party partners.
The GEC maintains that no taxpayer funds were used for GDI’s U.S. blacklisting activities, although Republicans argue that money is fungible. Mast pointed out the challenge of the GEC’s mission statement, which focuses on countering foreign propaganda and disinformation while not addressing Americans directly.
Overall, the hearing shed light on the controversy surrounding the GEC’s funding of GDI and raised concerns about potential bias in the selection of third-party partners.
Are there concerns that the GEC’s funding of the Global Disinformation Index (GDI) violates the Smith-Mundt Act and what impact does it have on freedom of speech?
Ets, such as the Washington Examiner and Daily Caller. Kimmage maintained that the GEC does not blacklist media outlets and focuses on countering foreign disinformation and propaganda.
Government Funding of Disfavored Speech
The funding of the GDI by the U.S. government has raised concerns among Republicans who believe that it is an infringement on free speech rights. They argue that the government should not be using taxpayer dollars to fund a group that is actively working to silence conservative media outlets through the labeling of “disinformation.”
“It is deeply concerning that taxpayer funds are being used to support an organization that labels and suppresses certain media outlets simply because they hold different political views,” said Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO).
Republicans on the committee questioned whether the GEC’s funding of the GDI violated the Smith-Mundt Act, which prohibits the use of government funds to influence public opinion within the United States. They raised concerns about the potential impact on freedom of speech and the broader implications for media independence and transparency.
Protecting Free Speech and Media Independence
The questioning of the Biden administration official reflects the ongoing concerns within the Republican party about perceived bias in the media and the suppression of conservative voices. Republicans argue that the funding of organizations like the GDI undermines the principles of free speech and media independence that are essential to a functioning democracy.
“The role of government should not be to determine what is disinformation or what is acceptable speech in the media,” stated Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT).
Republicans are calling for a reevaluation of the GEC’s funding and its relationship with the GDI. They stress the need for transparency and accountability in how taxpayer funds are allocated and urge the Biden administration to prioritize the protection of free speech rights for all Americans, regardless of their political affiliation.
The Future of the Global Engagement Center
The outcome of the congressional hearing and the decision on whether to reauthorize the Global Engagement Center will have significant implications for the fight against foreign disinformation and propaganda. While Republicans are skeptical of the center’s current approach and the funding of the GDI, there is recognition of the importance of countering foreign influence operations.
“We need a solution that addresses foreign disinformation without infringing on the rights of American citizens and media outlets,” emphasized Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
As the debate unfolds, it is clear that Republicans remain committed to upholding the principles of free speech, media independence, and transparency in the face of perceived censorship and bias. The decision on the future of the Global Engagement Center will be a crucial test for the Biden administration in navigating these concerns and finding a balance between countering disinformation and safeguarding democratic values.
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