Hidden censorship fund extension in spending bill faces BACKLASH

By kevinhughes // 2024-12-22

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The U.S. government has granted a one-year extension of funding for the Department of State's Global Engagement Center (GEC) in a 1,547-page spending bill, despite controversy surrounding the organization.
The GEC has been accused of funding organizations that censor conservative media and domestic misinformation campaigns, leading to criticism from conservatives and free speech advocates.
A Republican-led House report highlighted concerns over the GEC's domestic censorship efforts, and a lawsuit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and others claims the GEC has been used to suppress conservative media, violating the First Amendment.
The recent funding extension has drawn significant opposition from GOP lawmakers and free speech advocates, who argue that the GEC's operations violate the principles of free speech and threaten democratic processes.
With the upcoming vote on the spending bill, critics are expected to challenge the inclusion of the GEC funding extension, calling for a reassessment of the organization's role and a potential overhaul of its operations.

The U.S. government has included a one-year extension of funding for the Department of State's (DOS) Global Engagement Center (GEC) in a 1,547-page spending bill. The GEC, which has been accused of funding organizations that censor conservative media and contributing to domestic misinformation campaigns, is set to receive an estimated budget allocation in a section of the bill known as the Global Engagement Center Extension. The GEC, a $61 million operation with 125 employees, was initially established to combat foreign disinformation and propaganda. (Related: U.S. State Department’s Global Engagement Center was founded to counter foreign propaganda, but has since been turned against the American people by coordinating social media censorship.) However, its role has been the subject of controversy due to its alleged involvement in domestic censorship efforts. Critics claim that the agency has been instrumental in funding groups like the Global Disinformation Index and NewsGuard, which have been accused of suppressing conservative media outlets and stifling free speech. The extension of funding for the GEC has drawn significant opposition from both Republican lawmakers and press freedom advocates. In September, a report by the Republican-led House Small Business Committee highlighted concerns over the GEC's overstepping its mandate by targeting and censoring small U.S. businesses. The report alleged that the GEC had used its funding to support projects that engaged in domestic censorship, ultimately contravening its primary mission of combating foreign misinformation. In a lawsuit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Daily Wire and the Federalist, the plaintiffs accuse the DOS, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and other government officials of conspiring to censor and deplatform conservative media.

GEC used its funding to support projects engaged in domestic censorship

Paxton and the other plaintiffs argue that the GEC has been weaponized to violate the First Amendment and suppress constitutionally protected speech. The case against the GEC goes beyond mere accusations of political bias. According to Matt Taibbi and other investigative reporters, the agency has been involved in flagging and censoring online content based on its political viewpoints, leading to significant criticism from advocacy groups like the Foundation For Freedom Online and America First Legal. As reported by Taibbi, the GEC "funded a secret list of subcontractors and helped pioneer and insidious—and idiotic—new form of blacklisting" during the pandemic. One of the most controversial aspects of the GEC's operations involves the funding of projects like "Cat Park," a video game designed to "inoculate" youth against disinformation abroad. Critics argue that such initiatives are more focused on promoting specific political ideologies than protecting Americans against foreign propaganda. Despite these criticisms, the GEC has remained largely unscathed until now. The recent spending bill's extension of the GEC's funding is significant because it comes at a time when the State Department had previously announced plans to shut down the agency. The inclusion of the extension in the massive spending bill has been characterized as a last-minute maneuver to sustain the agency's operations. Opposition to the funding extension has been mounting. Several Republican leaders and conservative media figures, including President-elect Donald Trump's senior advisor, have called for a complete overhaul of the GEC’s operations and a reassessment of its role in the U.S. government. They argue that the agency's current mandate violates the principles of free speech and threatens the democratic process. With the upcoming vote on the spending bill, the controversy over the GEC's extension is set to intensify. Free speech advocates and Republican lawmakers are expected to mount a significant challenge to the inclusion of the funding extension, hoping to prevent the continuation of an agency that many view as a threat to constitutional rights. Follow Censorship.news for more news about the censorship happening in America. Watch this clip that discusses the Biden administration notifying Congress of plans to shut down the GEC under the State Department. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

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GEC used its funding to support projects engaged in domestic censorship

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