Long before the tumultuous days of the COVID-19 pandemic and the contentious 2020 Election, a quiet storm of censorship was brewing. With counting mysteriously halted as night fell, only to resume with Joe Biden suddenly overtaking President Trump in pivotal swing states, the election’s integrity was questioned by many. As conservatives voiced concerns about these anomalies, a widespread censorship effort began to surface, targeting those who dared to challenge the mainstream narrative.
In the wake of these events, it became increasingly clear that a coordinated effort was in place, involving social media giants, numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and specific federal agencies. Over the years, extensive reporting has uncovered the layers of this censorship, including how federally-funded NGOs such as the Center for Internet Security became conduits for government oversight, determining which content was deemed unfit for public consumption.
America First Legal (AFL), through its tenacious litigation, has peeled back yet another layer of this censorship regime. A press release from AFL highlights a “massive, government-backed censorship operation” to silence American voices under the guise of battling “misinformation,” “disinformation,” and “malinformation.” This operation involves USAID, an agency whose involvement in censorship efforts has now come to light.
The documents AFL obtained reveal a troubling alliance between the Global Engagement Center (GEC), USAID, the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and media organizations. This coalition worked in unison to manipulate public discourse, control media narratives, and suppress free speech. Originally set to combat foreign disinformation, the GEC’s efforts extended beyond its mandate, engaging in state-sponsored propaganda.
Through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, AFL has uncovered how the GEC, along with USAID, developed a “Disinformation Primer” endorsing private sector censorship. The GEC collaborated with British officials to counter “COVID-19 misinformation” and suppress narratives deemed undesirable, often utilizing AI tools like “Misinformation Fingerprints” to identify and rate websites.
These revelations underscore a dangerous reality: censorship through artificial intelligence, bypassing human judgment, represents a precarious shift. Such practices open Pandora’s Box, fostering a landscape where free speech is a shadow of its former self.
AFL’s findings also include emails depicting the intricate web of cooperation within the censorship regime. In one correspondence, a GEC liaison emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue to counter misinformation, even as USAID’s mission ostensibly focused on assisting nations recovering from disasters or escaping poverty.
Among those involved in these censorship initiatives were the likes of Park Advisors and NewsGuard, both with questionable governmental ties. Park Advisors, receiving significant funding from GEC, aimed to integrate emerging technologies into governmental operations. Their efforts included a partnership with NewsGuard, which pitched services to organizations intertwined with state security agencies.
“The partnership between USAID and the Global Engagement Center is bad news for the American people. 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. Thankfully, the GEC is shuttered and USAID is being exposed — but lawmakers should take note of this example as they consider legislation to ensure the federal government actually serves American principles and interests,” said AFL’s Senior Counsel Andrew Block.
1BREAKING — Explosive new documents expose a massive government-backed censorship operation orchestrated by USAID, the Global Engagement Center, the UK government, and media firms to manipulate public discourse and silence Americans.
— America First Legal (@America1stLegal)
March 20, 2025
Moreover, recent developments have seen USAID, often dubbed a “CIA-front,” become a focal point of scrutiny. With President Trump having slashed a significant portion of its contracts, USAID faced a legal battle over its restructuring, revealing the complex interplay between executive power and judiciary mandates. This situation highlights the pressing need for legislative clarity regarding agency governance.
THREAD: Starting fresh thread elaborating on horrifyingly abusive order just entered by a federal judge. Judge Chuang just clarified that he was enjoining Jeremy Lewin, individual Marco Rubio delegated authority to serve as Deputy Administrator and COO of USAID could not:
— Margot Cleveland (@ProfMJCleveland)
March 21, 2025
The Foundation for Freedom Online further exposes USAID’s deep-rooted censorship motives, detailing:
- The creation of a “Disinformation Primer” by USAID’s Center on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG), lauding private sector censorship and proposing further strategies.
- Censorship proposals aimed at influencing technology companies, media organizations, and national governments.
- Endorsement of “Advertiser Outreach” to financially throttle disfavored media.
- Advocacy for Google’s Redirect Method and “prebunking” to counteract citizen dissent.
- Strategies targeting gamers and gaming sites to curb non-mainstream narratives.
