State Department plans to shut down censorship center without congressional approval

The U.S. State Department, tasked with addressing foreign disinformation, is set to close the Global Engagement Center (GEC) unless Congress acts to extend its funding by December 23, 2024. Established through a 2016 funding bill that allocated resources for eight years, the center has recently been embroiled in controversy due to allegations of targeting American citizens in its efforts. This planned closure comes after a lack of support for additional funding in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2017. The GEC was instrumental in initiatives like the Election Integrity Partnership, which aimed to identify misinformation related to elections but faced criticism for its engagement with social media posts from Americans. In a December 2024 court filing, government lawyers stated that the center's termination would require congressional approval, which has not yet occurred. The GEC's mission is to counter foreign disinformation and propaganda affecting U.S. interests, but records suggest it flagged various social media accounts of American users, contributing to extensive debate over its operational integrity. A State Department spokesperson has expressed hope for congressional action to prevent closure, citing the need for capabilities to combat foreign disinformation. The GEC has faced legal scrutiny for its actions, especially following allegations that it participated in creating blacklists against conservative media outlets. In 2023, a legal challenge by these media organizations accused the GEC of unlawfully targeting them as disinformation sources, threatening their profitability and operations. The controversy intensified when evidence emerged that the center flagged content from a range of American users, contradicting claims that the center only focused on foreign disinformation activities. The impending closure of the GEC raises significant concerns about the future of American engagement with disinformation online and whether sufficient measures will remain in place to combat such threats. As December 23 approaches, the outcome appears uncertain, and stakeholders are keenly watching Congressional actions regarding the center’s future and overall disinformation strategies in the U.S.