The American First Legal reveals an extensive, state-sponsored censorship operation carried out by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Global Engagement Center (GEC), the British government, and various media outlets to manipulate public discourse and silence American citizens.
Background to the GEC: The Global Engagement Center was originally set up to combat foreign disinformation abroad. However, it was shut down in December 2024 after it was revealed that it was spreading state-sponsored propaganda and using private media organizations to suppress speech in the US.
Coordination between GEC and USAID: The documents show that the GEC and USAID worked together to censor so-called “COVID-19 misinformation” and counter “COVID-19 propaganda.” This cooperation is contrary to USAID’s stated mission, which is to help countries recover from disasters, fight poverty, and support democratic reforms.
Involvement of private media companies: A notable example is the email from NewsGuard’s Matt Skibinski, who contacted government officials two days after the 2020 U.S. presidential election to offer the media monitoring company’s services. This email was sent to representatives of Park Advisors, the GEC, USAID, the National Security Agency (NSA), and various departments of the Department of Defense.
Funding and connections: The House Small Business Committee found that Park Advisors received a grant of over $6 million from the GEC. This company subsequently subcontracted to organizations such as NewsGuard, the Atlantic Council, and the Global Disinformation Index, a George Soros-funded project that compiled lists of conservative websites that it recommended advertising companies boycott.
Use of AI for surveillance: Skibinski’s correspondence shows immediate coordination between Park Advisors, GEC, USAID, NSA, and the Department of Defense to use new artificial intelligence and machine learning tools to monitor “misinformation.”
Lack of safeguards: A report by the House Small Business Committee notes that there were no safeguards in place to ensure that government resources were not used to develop and promote technologies that could impact the domestic space.
In summary, the documents reveal close collaboration between government agencies and private media outlets to control public discourse and promote certain narratives, raising serious concerns about freedom of expression and the role of state institutions in influencing public opinion.
Translated and edited by Hans Seckler