Claire Bernish
\nANTI MEDIA<\/p>\n
(<\/b>ANTIMEDIA<\/b><\/a>)<\/b> United States \u2014<\/i> In the true Orwellian fashion now typifying<\/a> 2016, a bill to implement the U.S.\u2019 very own de facto Ministry of Truth has been quietly introduced in Congress \u2014 its lack of fanfare appropriate given the bill\u2019s equally subtle language. As with any legislation attempting to dodge the public spotlight, however, the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act of 2016 marks a further curtailment of press freedom and another avenue to stultify avenues of accurate information.<\/p>\n Introduced by Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Ted Lieu, H.R. 5181<\/a> seeks a \u201cwhole-government approach without the bureaucratic restrictions\u201d<\/i> to counter \u201cforeign disinformation and manipulation,\u201d<\/i> which they believe threaten the world\u2019s \u201csecurity and stability.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cAs Russia continues to spew its disinformation and false narratives, they undermine the United States and its interests in places like Ukraine, while also breeding further instability in these countries,\u201d<\/i> Kinzinger explained<\/a> in a statement.\u201cThe United States has a role in countering these destabilizing acts of propaganda, which is why I\u2019m proud to introduce [the aforementioned bill]. This important legislation develops a comprehensive U.S. strategy to counter disinformation campaigns through interagency cooperation and on-the-ground partnerships with outside organizations that have experience in countering foreign propaganda.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n Make no mistake \u2014 this legislation isn\u2019t proposing some team of noble fact-finders, chiseling away to free the truth from the fa\u00e7ades of various foreign governmental narratives for the betterment of American and allied populations. If passed, this legislation will allow cumbrously pro-\u2018American\u2019 propaganda to infiltrate cable, online, and mainstream news organizations wherever the government deems necessary.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom Ukraine to the South China Sea, foreign disinformation campaigns do more than spread anti-Western sentiments \u2014 they manipulate public perception to change the facts on the ground, subvert democracy and undermine U.S. interests,\u201d<\/i> Lieu explained<\/a>. \u201cIn short, they make the world less safe.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n H.R. 5181 tasks the Secretary of State with coordinating the Secretary of Defense, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Broadcasting Board of Governors to \u201cestablish a Center for Information Analysis and Response,\u201d<\/i> which will pinpoint sources of disinformation, analyze data, and \u2014 in true dystopic manner \u2014 \u2018develop and disseminate\u2019 \u201cfact-based narratives\u201d<\/b> to counter effrontery propaganda.<\/p>\n Listed among nine core duties of this propaganda response squad, according to the bill\u2019s text, emphasis added, will be \u201cIdentifying current and emerging trends in foreign propaganda and disinformation, including the use of print, broadcast, online and social media, support for third-party outlets such as think tanks, political parties, and nongovernmental organizations, <\/i>and the use of covert or clandestine special operators and agents to influence targeted populations and governments<\/i><\/b> in order to coordinate and shape the development of tactics, techniques, and procedures to expose and refute foreign misinformation and disinformation\u201d<\/i> \u2014 ostensibly in foreign lands.<\/p>\n Also called the Countering Information Warfare Act of 2016 (S. 2692<\/a>), when introduced in March by Sen. Rob Portman, the legislation represents a dramatic return to Cold War-era government propaganda battles.<\/p>\n \u201cThese countries spend vast sums of money on advanced broadcast and digital media capabilities, targeted campaigns, funding of foreign political movements, and other efforts to influence key audiences and populations,\u201d<\/i> Portmanexplained<\/a>, adding that while the U.S. spends a relatively small amount on its Voice of America<\/i>, the Kremlin provides enormous funding for its news organization, RT<\/i>.<\/p>\n \u201cSurprisingly,\u201d<\/i> Portman continued, \u201cthere is currently no single U.S. governmental agency or department charged with the national level development, integration and synchronization of whole-of-government strategies to counter foreign propaganda and disinformation.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n Though putatively aimed to counter purported disinformation abroad, text of the bill hints the effort would operate on some level within the U.S., as well \u2014 or at least cracks the door to widening that scope and focus in the future.<\/p>\n \u201cWhether it\u2019s counter-propaganda, whether it\u2019s counter-extremism, we just really have to come to terms with the fact the United States government is not always the most credible voice in these debates,\u201d<\/i> said<\/a> Kristin Lord, CEO of IREX<\/a>, a non-profit organization promoting \u2018global change,\u2019 at a meeting of the Atlantic Council in March. \u201cSo we have to invest in the people who are making the credible arguments.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n