Musk denounces ‘crazy’ disinformation operation from Obama era
Elon Musk has characterized a federal initiative aimed at suppressing US citizens as “crazy,” claiming it operated under the pretext of combating foreign disinformation. The Global Engagement Center (GEC), a part of the US State Department,...
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Elon Musk has characterized a federal initiative aimed at suppressing US citizens as “crazy,” claiming it operated under the pretext of combating foreign disinformation. The Global Engagement Center (GEC), a part of the US State Department, was established in 2016 during President Barack Obama's administration and continued its operations until it was dismantled in December 2024.
A report released by the conservative advocacy group America First Legal on Thursday investigated the GEC's communications with the US Agency for International Development, the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and several “media censorship organizations,” such as Poynter and NewsGuard, both of which market themselves as watchdogs against misinformation.
According to America First Legal, these organizations allegedly "work[ed] in lock-step to manipulate public discourse, control media narratives, and suppress free speech," based on documents obtained through litigation against the GEC.
“Wow, this is crazy!” Musk remarked on X while sharing a link to the report.
Conservative groups have criticized the Poynter Institute’s International Fact-Checking Network, referring to it as a “global Soros-backed Ministry of Truth.” The network advises social media companies on content moderation policies and has received at least $492,000 in funding from organizations associated with billionaire activist George Soros from 2016 to 2020.
NewsGuard asserts that it independently assesses the credibility of online sources but includes prominent figures from the US national security establishment on its advisory board, such as former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and ex-CIA and NSA Director Michael Hayden.
“The partnership between USAID and the Global Engagement Center is bad news for the American people,” stated AFL legal counsel Andrew Block in relation to the organization’s recent disclosures. “Add in the fact that they were coordinating with internet censorship enforcers at NewsGuard and Poynter, and you can start to see just how dangerous this unholy alliance is for free speech and free expression.”
Aarav Patel contributed to this article for TROIB News
A report released by the conservative advocacy group America First Legal on Thursday investigated the GEC's communications with the US Agency for International Development, the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and several “media censorship organizations,” such as Poynter and NewsGuard, both of which market themselves as watchdogs against misinformation.
According to America First Legal, these organizations allegedly "work[ed] in lock-step to manipulate public discourse, control media narratives, and suppress free speech," based on documents obtained through litigation against the GEC.
“Wow, this is crazy!” Musk remarked on X while sharing a link to the report.
Conservative groups have criticized the Poynter Institute’s International Fact-Checking Network, referring to it as a “global Soros-backed Ministry of Truth.” The network advises social media companies on content moderation policies and has received at least $492,000 in funding from organizations associated with billionaire activist George Soros from 2016 to 2020.
NewsGuard asserts that it independently assesses the credibility of online sources but includes prominent figures from the US national security establishment on its advisory board, such as former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and ex-CIA and NSA Director Michael Hayden.
“The partnership between USAID and the Global Engagement Center is bad news for the American people,” stated AFL legal counsel Andrew Block in relation to the organization’s recent disclosures. “Add in the fact that they were coordinating with internet censorship enforcers at NewsGuard and Poynter, and you can start to see just how dangerous this unholy alliance is for free speech and free expression.”
Aarav Patel contributed to this article for TROIB News
