Internal documents obtained by America First Legal from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have revealed a disturbing initiative to promote widespread censorship practices across various sectors, aimed at suppressing independent perspectives and alternative narratives. Among the tactics included in the report, the agency advocates for “Advertiser Outreach” to cut “financial report” for those who don’t toe the government’s line.
The Foundation For Freedom Online reports that a recently uncovered “Disinformation Primer” authored by USAID’s Center on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG) has exposed the agency’s overt endorsement of private sector censorship strategies and proposed additional censorship practices and techniques. The 97-page document, obtained through litigation against the U.S. Department of State by the public interest law firm America First Legal (AFL), lays bare USAID’s concerted efforts to influence technology companies, media organizations, education ministries, national governments, and funding bodies to adopt censorship measures.
🚨BREAKING🚨
— America First Legal (@America1stLegal) March 14, 2024
Our lawsuit against Biden’s State Department just unearthed USAID’s “Disinformation Primer,” revealing evidence of the government’s plot to promote censorship initiatives.
Critical analysis from @FFO_Freedom @MikeBenzCyber @AllumBokhari: https://t.co/EyB1UVZvBU
