POLITICS: State Department Closes Controversial Global Engagement Center Amid Censorship Allegations – USSA News

The Global Engagement Center (GEC) has shut down due to a lack of funding after conservatives, including Elon Musk and Republican lawmakers, criticized its role in censoring Americans’ speech. These concerns led to the GEC’s defunding in the National Defense Authorization Act.

After facing widespread accusations of media manipulation and censorship, the Pentagon’s annual policy bill will strip the GEC’s funding, causing it to close by December 23, 2024, Fox News reported.

Criticism and Closure of the Global Engagement Center (GEC)

The government created the GEC to combat foreign propaganda and misinformation, but critics attacked it for censoring domestic speech. Conservative figures, including tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, labeled the center one of the worst offenders in U.S. government censorship.

Musk called the GEC “the worst offender in U.S. government censorship & media manipulation.” These criticisms, combined with concerns from lawmakers, played a significant role in the decision to cut its budget.

Congress made the decision to defund the GEC as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a yearly policy bill. The GEC had operated under a continuing resolution, but conservative lawmakers resisted its inclusion in the NDAA, arguing that its disinformation efforts were redundant. They claimed the private sector already handled similar tasks more effectively.

A State Department spokesperson confirmed the closure of the GEC, stating that the agency would cease operations by the end of December 23, 2024. “The Global Engagement Center will terminate by operation of law by the end of the day on December 23, 2024,” the spokesperson said. They also added that the Department of State had consulted with Congress regarding possible next steps.

Allegations of Censorship Spark Legal Challenges

The GEC, which employed about 120 people and had a budget of $61 million, became a focal point of debate after allegations emerged that it had been flagging content from U.S. citizens.

Reporter Matt Taibbi and others suggested that the center had used taxpayer dollars to support a covert blacklist, targeting American speech and media outlets. Taibbi, in particular, pointed out that the GEC had flagged accounts that discussed the COVID-19 pandemic’s origins, such as those speculating the virus might have been engineered in a lab.

The controversy intensified as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, along with conservative media outlets like The Daily Wire and The Federalist, filed a lawsuit against the GEC and State Department officials.

The lawsuit accused the center of systematically censoring and deplatforming American media outlets. “One of the most egregious government operations to censor the American press in the history of the nation,” the complaint read.

The lawsuit alleged that conservative-leaning outlets, including The Daily Wire and The Federalist, were labeled “unreliable” or “risky,” damaging their credibility and reducing their advertising revenue. The Texas Attorney General’s Office argued that the GEC had weaponized its authority to target domestic speech, violating First Amendment protections in the process.

Controversial Disinformation Projects Draw Criticism

Amid the controversy, new revelations about GEC-funded projects surfaced, drawing additional scrutiny. One such project was a video game titled “Cat Park,” designed to combat disinformation abroad.

According to a memo obtained by America First Legal, the game aimed to educate players on how sensational headlines, memes, and manipulated media could advance conspiracy theories and incite violence. The game’s purpose was to “inoculate players” against misinformation, particularly around international issues.

Mike Benz, executive director of the Foundation for Freedom Online, criticized the game as “anti-populist” and accused it of advancing a political agenda rather than protecting Americans from foreign disinformation. He and other critics argued that using taxpayer funds for such projects overstepped the GEC’s original mandate.

The GEC funded the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), which also faced scrutiny. DFRLab Director Graham Brookie denied tracking Americans, stating that its work focused internationally. However, reports from the Republican-led House Small Business Committee suggested that the GEC used its grants to track both domestic and foreign misinformation, including U.S.-based publishers.

Reactions to the GEC’s Shutdown

The shutdown of the GEC marks a major shift in U.S. efforts to counter misinformation, especially regarding domestic speech. While conservatives celebrate it as a win for free speech, others worry about the future of disinformation efforts, with responsibility likely shifting to private sector entities.

Supporters of the GEC argue its closure leaves a gap in the government’s ability to combat foreign propaganda and misinformation. As global disinformation campaigns increase, they fear the shutdown may hinder efforts to protect U.S. citizens from foreign influence.

The controversy surrounding the GEC highlights the ongoing debate about government regulation of speech and information flow. While some see misinformation as a threat to democracy, others believe such efforts infringe on free speech rights.

Looking Forward: What’s Next for Disinformation Efforts?

With the GEC’s closure, questions remain about how the U.S. government will address disinformation. Although lawmakers cut the agency’s budget, other agencies, such as the FBI, CIA, and Department of Homeland Security, will likely continue its mission to fight foreign propaganda and misinformation, though without centralized coordination.

Lawmakers from both parties are expected to continue debating how to balance national security with constitutional rights in responding to misinformation. For now, the GEC’s closure ends a controversial chapter in the government’s fight against disinformation.

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