Congress wrote this rule for radio. Write it again for social media platforms
The Pentagon is mobilizing to defend November’s elections. Yet, in some respects, the Pentagon’s hands are tied. U.S. law allows foreign governments to direct propaganda at American audiences without disclosing the material’s origin.
TL;DR
- U.S. law allows foreign governments to direct propaganda at American audiences without disclosing the material's origin.
- The Pentagon's efforts to defend elections are limited to foreign networks, not conduct within the U.S.
- Unlike broadcasters, social media platforms have no legal duty to identify foreign government sponsors of content.
- Examples of foreign propaganda operations include Russian AI-generated videos and an Iranian network posing as American activists.
- A proposed solution is to require platforms to identify foreign government-linked accounts and networks, similar to existing broadcast regulations.
- Legislation should also mandate disclosure when a foreign government pays for messages reaching Americans and require reporting of deceptive behavior traceable to foreign states.
- These measures aim for transparency, not government censorship or content moderation.