State Department Under Fire for Funding Group Secretly Blacklisting Conservative Media Outlets

This is Part 4 of Washington Examiner’s investigative series about self-described “disinformation” tracking groups. They are cracking down against conservative media as part of a lucrative operation that seeks to defund disfavored speech. Parts
One
,
Two

Three
.

EXCLUSIVE — WConcerns have been raised by atchdog groups about the
State Department
Bankrolling “disinformation” Tracking group that secretly blacklists conservative media outlets and tries to defund them.

The Washington Examiner
On Thursday, the following information was revealed
The Global Disinformation Index is a British-based organization that has two U.S. non-profit groups as affiliates. It is bringing in cash to defund and shut down disfavored speech. Several watchdogs have now called out the State Department
This group is being funded
, which feeds its blacklist to major advertising companies.

DISINFORMATION INC.: READ A ‘BLACKLIST’ TO DEFUND CONSERVATIVE NEWS

“Nothing is more Soviet than using federal government funding to control speech by choking an independent press,” Adam Andrzejewski (CEO of OpenTheBooks), a tax watchdog, spoke to the Washington Examiner. “The federal government is continuing to put its own thumb on the scale to green-light or red-light content in the marketplace of ideas. Using third-party intermediaries to do the dirty work isn’t fooling anyone.”

GDI compiles a “dynamic exclusion list” According to some, it hosts at least 2,000 websites. It is said to have at least 2,000 websites. Washington Examiner
Learned
It is listed on the list, according to a source within the advertising industry. Breitbart News It’s on it.

News companies are likely to lose vital advertising dollars due to the disinformation group’s efforts. Clare Melford (ex-senior vice president of MTV Networks) and Daniel Rogers are the leaders of GDI. “riskiest” “worst” The following are some of the people who profit from disinformation. American SpectatorNewsmax, the FederalistThe American Conservative One America News Blaze, The Daily Wire, RealClearPolitics – ReasonThe, and New York Post.

DISINFORMATION INC.: STATE DEPARTMENT BANKROLLS GROUP SLEEPLY BLACKLISTING CONSERVATIVE MEDIA

Xandr, a Microsoft-affiliated group, is one advertising company that has subscribed to this blacklist. Xandr has flagged dozens more conservative websites. “false/misleading,” “hate speech,” Or “reprehensible/offensive,”
According to leaked data to the

Washington Examiner
whistleblowers.

However, GDI received $330,000
Combination of entities falling under the State Department
First Amendment lawyers and members raised concerns about legality of this.

“I’m a proud conservative and an unashamed advocate for the free market and these documents put to rest the idea that Big Tech’s behavior should not be investigated by Republicans because they are private companies,” Tom Jones, president, American Accountability Foundation told the Washington Examiner. “American companies gave up the right to be left alone when they got in bed with the federal government. I hope these and other revelations are part of a deep and probing investigation by the United States Congress.”

Protect the Public’s Trust said another watchdog that the State Department funding groups were a good idea. “targeting Americans” Turns the Constitution “on its head.”

DISINFORMATION INC: MEET GROUPS HAULING in Cash to SECRETLY BLACKLIST CONSERVATIVE NEWS

“The founders’ fears of the awesome power and resources of the government being used to silence those who don’t spout the government line is precisely why we have a First Amendment,” Michael Chamberlain, the group’s director, told the Washington Examiner. “Every layer of government involvement is being removed from the vast and growing censorship business. This makes it more alarming and scary for anyone worried about the ideals this nation was founded on.

Lawyers believe that the State Department’s ties with GDI or other groups involved in the US blacklisting could put the agency in serious legal trouble.

Jeffrey Clark, former acting head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, noted that government and private entities are incompatible. “shouldn’t be involved with this entity that’s engaged in conduct that is either legally questionable or at least morally questionable.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM THE WASHINGTON XAMINER

“The GEC in no way moderates content on social media platforms; that is not its mission or its intent,” A spokesperson from the State Department spoke to the Washington Examiner. “The role of the GEC is to identify foreign state and nonstate disinformation narratives, trends, and techniques aimed at undermining or influencing the policies, security, or stability of the United States, U.S. allies, and partner nations.”