View source for Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act

{{Short description|2016 American anti-propaganda legislation}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Use American English|date=November 2023}}
[[File:Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act of 2016.pdf|thumb|Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act]]

The '''Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act''' (CFPDA), initially called the '''Countering Information Warfare Act''', is a [[Bipartisanship|bipartisan]] law of the [[United States Congress]] that establishes an interagency center within the [[United States Department of State|U.S. Department of State]] to coordinate and synchronize [[counterpropaganda]] efforts throughout the [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. government]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Senate Passes Major Murphy-Portman Counter-Propaganda Bill as Part of NDAA {{!}} U.S. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut |url=https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-major-murphy-portman-counter-propaganda-bill-as-part-of-ndaa |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=www.murphy.senate.gov |language=en}}</ref> It also provides funding to help train journalists and support [[private sector]] entities and experts who specialize in foreign propaganda and disinformation.<ref name=":0" />

The CFPDA was written in March 2016 by [[United States Senate|U.S. Senators]] [[Rob Portman]] ([[Ohio Republican Party|R, OH]]) and [[Chris Murphy]] ([[Democratic Party of Connecticut|D, CT]]) and introduced in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] on 10 May 2016 by Congressman [[Adam Kinzinger]] ([[Illinois Republican Party|R, IL]]), joined by thirteen bipartisan co-sponsors, including [[Ted Lieu]] ([[California Democratic Party|D, CA]]) of the [[United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs|Committee on Foreign Affairs]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Details for H.R. 5181 (114th): Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act of 2016 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr5181/cosponsors |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}}</ref>

In both the House and Senate, the bill was included in the [[National Defense Authorization Act]] for fiscal year 2017. It passed the House in this fashion in a conference report vote on 2 December 2016; the Senate then passed the measure in a conference report on 8 December by a tally of 92–7. The 2017 National Defense Authorization Act was [[signed into law]] by President Barack Obama on 23 December 2016, thus enacting the CFPDA.<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2943/ |title=S.2943 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 |website=Congress.gov |date=23 December 2016 |publisher=[[Library of Congress]]  |access-date=December 29, 2016 }}</ref>

==History==
[[File:US Senators Call for Increased Efforts to Counter Russian, Chinese Propaganda.webm|thumb|left|Video of U.S. Senators Republican [[Rob Portman]] and Democrat [[Chris Murphy]] speaking about the bipartisan bill]]
The bipartisan bill was written in March 2016 by U.S. Senators Republican [[Rob Portman]] and Democrat [[Chris Murphy]].<ref name="combatpropaganda">{{citation |last=Timberg |first=Craig |title=Effort to combat foreign propaganda advances in Congress |date=30 November 2016 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/effort-to-combat-foreign-propaganda-advances-in-congress/2016/11/30/9147e1ac-e221-47be-ab92-9f2f7e69d452_story.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=1 December 2016}}</ref> It was introduced by Senator Portman under its initial name Countering Information Warfare Act, on 16 March 2016 as S.2692.<ref name=informationwarfare>{{citation |access-date=December 9, 2016 |work=[[Congress.gov]] |publisher=[[United States Congress]]|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2692/related-bills|title=S.2692 - Countering Information Warfare Act of 2016 |first=Rob |last=Portman |date=16 March 2016 |author-link=Rob Portman}}</ref> It was introduced as the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act in the [[United States House of Representatives]] on 10 May 2016 as H.R.5181, co-sponsored by Republican Congressman [[Adam Kinzinger]] along with Democratic Congressman [[Ted Lieu]].<ref name=house>{{citation|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5181|work=[[Congress.gov]] |title=H.R.5181 - Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act of 2016 |date=May 10, 2016 |access-date=December 9, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Congress]] |first=Adam |last=Kinzinger |author-link=Adam Kinzinger}}</ref><ref name=tedlieu /> The bill was introduced as the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act in the [[United States Senate]] on 14 July 2016 sponsored by Senator Rob Portman as S.3274.<ref name=senate>{{citation|access-date=December 9, 2016|title=S.3274 - Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/3274 |work=[[Congress.gov]] |publisher=[[United States Congress]] |first=Rob |last=Portman |date=14 July 2016 |author-link=Rob Portman}}</ref>

''[[The Washington Post]]'' and the ''[[International Business Times]]'' reported that after the [[2016 United States presidential election]], worries grew that [[Propaganda in the Russian Federation|propaganda spread and organized by the Russian government]] swayed the outcome of the election, and representatives in the [[United States Congress]] took action to safeguard the [[National security of the United States]] by advancing legislation to monitor incoming propaganda from external threats.<ref name=combatpropaganda/><ref name=representativesbacks>{{citation|work=[[International Business Times|International Business Times UK edition]]|access-date=1 December 2016|title=US House of representatives backs proposal to counter global Russian subversion|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/us-house-representatives-backs-proposal-counter-global-russian-subversion-1594342|date=1 December 2016|first=Tom|last=Porter}}</ref> On November 30, 2016, legislators approved a measure within the [[National Defense Authorization Act]] to ask the [[United States Department of State|U.S. State Department]] to take action against foreign propaganda through an interagency panel.<ref name=combatpropaganda /><ref name=representativesbacks /> The legislation authorized funding of $160 million over a two-year-period.<ref name=combatpropaganda /><ref name=patricktucker /> Portman urged more U.S. government action to counter disinformation and propaganda.<ref name=combatpropaganda /> Murphy said that after the election it was apparent the U.S. needed additional tactics to fight Russian disinformation.<ref name=combatpropaganda /> Senator [[Ron Wyden]], a member of the [[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence|Senate Select Committee on Intelligence]], told ''The Washington Post'': "There is definitely bipartisan concern about the Russian government engaging in covert influence activities of this nature."<ref name=combatpropaganda />

The bill advanced in the U.S. House of Representatives on 2 December 2016, when the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 conference report to S. 2943 passed in that chamber, including the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act.<ref name=tedlieu>{{citation |url=https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-lieu-statement-house-passage-2017-ndaa |access-date=December 10, 2016 |date=December 2, 2016 |title=Congressman Lieu Statement on House Passage of the 2017 NDAA |work=Lieu.house.gov |first=Ted |last=Lieu |author-link=Ted Lieu}}</ref>

In a speech to lawmakers on 8 December 2016, [[Hillary Clinton]] called attention to the issue, saying pending legislation before the U.S. Congress would "boost the government's response to foreign propaganda."<ref name=adirobertson /> She called on trendsetters in society to work together on the problem: "It's imperative that leaders in both the private sector and the public sector step up to protect our democracy, and innocent lives."<ref name=adirobertson>{{citation |work=[[The Verge]] |first=Adi |last=Robertso n|access-date=December 10, 2016 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/12/8/13893000/hillary-clinton-pizzagate-fake-news-lives-at-risk |title=Hillary Clinton says 'lives are at risk' because of fake news |date=December 8, 2016}}</ref>

On 8 December 2016, the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act passed a vote in the U.S. Senate by a wide margin.<ref name=stratford>{{citation |url=http://www.stratfordstar.com/61058/murphy-supports-act-to-fund-military-hardware-purchases/ |access-date=December 9, 2016 |date=December 8, 2016 |work=[[Hersam Acorn Newspapers|Stratford Star]] |title=Murphy supports act to fund military hardware purchases}}</ref> It was included together with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report for fiscal year 2017, which passed in the U.S. Senate with a final tally of 92 to 7.<ref name=stratford />

In the version of the bill incorporated into the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, the U.S. Congress would ask the [[United States Secretary of State]] to collaborate with the [[United States Secretary of Defense]] and other relevant Federal agencies to create a "[[Global Engagement Center]]" (GEC) to fight against propaganda from foreign governments and publicize the nature of ongoing foreign [[propaganda]] and [[disinformation]] operations against the United States and other countries.<ref>{{citation |chapter-url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2943/text#toc-H533D0AE113D24D90A6BD9F8A0B9D679C |access-date=December 10, 2016 |chapter=SEC. 1259C. Global Engagement Center. |title=S.2943 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 |publisher=[[United States Congress]] |date=December 8, 2016 |first=John |last=McCain |author-link=John McCain}}</ref> The bill called for an inter-agency effort to "counter foreign propaganda and disinformation directed against United States national security interests and proactively advance fact-based narratives that support United States allies and interests."<ref name=patricktucker>{{citation |title= The US Is Losing at Influence Warfare. Here's Why |url= http://www.defenseone.com/threats/2016/12/us-losing-influence-warfare-heres-why/133654/ |first= Patrick |last=Tucker |work=[[Atlantic Media|Defense One]] |access-date= December 10, 2016 |date= December 5, 2016 }}</ref>

Supporters of the resolution inside the Defense Department have publicly expressed their desire to weaken the interpretation of domestic propaganda protections, laws which prevent the United States Department of State from gathering information necessary to develop targeted propaganda messaging and prevent them from explicitly attempting to influence opinions.<ref name=patricktucker/>

According to ''The New York Times'', as of March 2018, the State Department had not yet begun to spend the $120 million allocated to it, and not one of the 23 analysts working in the GEC could speak Russian.<ref name="2018Trump">{{cite news |title=State Dept. Was Granted $120 Million to Fight Russian Meddling. It Has Spent $0 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/04/world/europe/state-department-russia-global-engagement-center.html? |access-date=February 23, 2022 |work=New York Times |date=March 4, 2018 |quote=the State Department has yet to spend any of the $120 million it has been allocated since late 2016 to counter foreign efforts to meddle in elections or sow distrust in democracy.  As a result, not one of the 23 analysts working in the department's Global Engagement Center — which has been tasked with countering Moscow's disinformation campaign — speaks Russian, and a department hiring freeze has hindered efforts to recruit the computer experts needed to track the Russian efforts.}}</ref> In 2020, the GEC issued its first report, describing what it called "Pillars of Russia's Disinformation and Propaganda Ecosystem."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=Julian E. |title=State Dept. Traces Russian Disinformation Links |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/05/us/politics/state-department-russian-disinformation.html |access-date=February 23, 2022 |work=New York Times |date=August 5, 2020 |quote=Russia continues to use a network of proxy websites to spread pro-Kremlin disinformation and propaganda in the United States and other parts of the West, according to a State Department report released on Wednesday.  The report is one of the most detailed explanations yet from the Trump administration on how Russia disseminates disinformation, but it largely avoids discussing how Moscow is trying to influence the current campaign.}}</ref><ref name="2020State">{{Cite web |url=https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pillars-of-Russia%E2%80%99s-Disinformation-and-Propaganda-Ecosystem_08-04-20.pdf 
|title=GEC Special Report: August 2020: Pillars of Russia's Disinformation and Propaganda Ecosystem 
|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]
|quote=...this report draws on publicly available reporting to provide an overview of Russia's disinformation and propaganda ecosystem. Russia's disinformation and propaganda ecosystem is the collection of official, proxy, and unattributed communication channels and platforms that Russia uses to create and amplify false narratives.  
|date=2020 |access-date=February 23, 2022}}</ref> The GEC published another report on Kremlin-funded disinformation in January 2022.<ref name="2022State">{{Cite web |url=https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Kremlin-Funded-Media_January_update-19.pdf
|title=Kremlin-Funded Media: RT and Sputnik's Role in Russia's Disinformation and Propaganda Ecosystem
|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]
|quote=A proxy site is an unofficial mouthpiece promoting disinformation and propaganda. In the context of Russian disinformation and propaganda, some proxy sites have direct links to the Russian state, some are enmeshed in Russia's disinformation and propaganda ecosystem, and others are more loosely connected via the narratives they promote
|date=2022 |access-date=February 23, 2022}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Operation Mockingbird]]
* [[1995 CIA disinformation controversy]]
* [[Active Measures Working Group]]
* [[Counter Misinformation Team]]
* [[East StratCom Task Force]]
* [[Fake news website]]
* [[Forgery as covert operation]]
* [[Information warfare]]
* [[List of bills in the 114th United States Congress]]
* [[Russian military deception]] (Maskirovka)
* [[Post-truth politics]]
* [[Operation Infektion]]
* [[Operation Shocker]] 
* [[Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*{{citation |url=http://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F345D646-D202-4A26-88C0-E2821E02C195 |title=Portman, Murphy Introduce Bill to Counter Foreign Government Propaganda |date=16 March 2016 |first=Rob |last=Portman |author-link=Rob Portman |work=Portman.senate.gov |access-date=9 December 2016 }}
*{{citation |url=http://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=B764E2E9-EFB5-4E90-9F16-0428FE7D4CBB |access-date=9 December 2016 |first=Rob |last=Portman |author-link=Rob Portman |title=Portman Delivers Speech on Bipartisan Bill to Counter Foreign Government Propaganda |date=16 March 2016 |work=Portman.senate.gov}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act}}
*[https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/3274 S.3274] at [[Congress.gov]] 
*[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/s3274 S.3274] at [[GovTrack|Govtrack.us]]
*[https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5181 H.R. 5181] at Congress.gov
*[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr5181 H.R. 5181] at Govtrack.us
*[https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2943/text#toc-H533D0AE113D24D90A6BD9F8A0B9D679C Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act incorporated into text], for the [[National Defense Authorization Act]] 2017

{{Disinformation}}

[[Category:Acts of the 114th United States Congress]]
[[Category:Disinformation]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of the United States]]
[[Category:Propaganda in the United States]]