Documents released by America First Legal reveal USAID’s involvement in a covert government censorship program aimed at silencing American voices under the guise of fighting misinformation.
Quick Takes
- America First Legal uncovered documents showing USAID and the State Department’s Global Engagement Center coordinated censorship efforts with UK government officials and media organizations
- The operation used AI tools to identify and suppress content labeled as “misinformation,” particularly around COVID-19 topics
- NewsGuard and the Poynter Institute received government funding while participating in programs to monitor and flag alleged misinformation
- The State Department closed the controversial Global Engagement Center in December 2024 following congressional investigations
- Critics argue this collaboration represents a significant threat to First Amendment protections and free speech
Government Agencies’ Coordinated Censorship Efforts Exposed
America First Legal (AFL) has obtained over 200 pages of documents through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit that appear to expose a government-backed censorship operation. The documents reveal coordination between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC) in what critics describe as efforts to silence American viewpoints. According to AFL, these agencies worked alongside the British Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office and various media censorship organizations to control narratives and suppress content they deemed problematic.
Internal communications show USAID maintained a “Disinformation Primer” that reportedly praised private sector censorship strategies. The documents indicate the agencies justified their actions by claiming to combat “misinformation,” “disinformation,” and “malinformation” – particularly around COVID-19 topics. The revelations come after the State Department closed the controversial GEC in December 2024, following intense scrutiny from congressional investigations that characterized the center as engaging in federally-funded censorship activities.
/2 The documents reveal the Global Engagement Center (GEC), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the UK government, and media groups working together to conduct mass censorship under the guise of “misinformation,” “disinformation,” and “malinformation.” pic.twitter.com/PJnj3exWzu
— America First Legal (@America1stLegal) March 20, 2025
Private Organizations Enlisted in Government Program
The documents show the government enlisted several private organizations in its efforts. NewsGuard Technologies and the Poynter Institute reportedly received funding through various channels connected to the GEC. Park Advisors received a GEC award exceeding $6 million, with subawards distributed to companies including NewsGuard and the Atlantic Council. These partnerships facilitated the creation of “Disinfo Cloud,” a platform allegedly used by various governments to counter content labeled as propaganda and disinformation.
“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 Andrew Block, AFL senior counsel.
Documents revealed that NewsGuard’s General Manager, Matt Skibinski, demonstrated a project called “Misinformation Fingerprints,” which employed AI and machine learning technology to identify and monitor alleged misinformation across media platforms. Both NewsGuard and the Poynter Institute have publicly denied engaging in censorship activities, stating they are committed to providing information and supporting independent journalism rather than suppressing content.
Mike Benz show proof on Joe Rogan that American taxpayers paid for both the Covid Pandemic and our own Covid Censorship with USAID money
“I always say when it's too dirty for the CIA, you give to USAID”
“This is Internews with a worldwide media octopus sponsored a half a… pic.twitter.com/cqSKC3nXc6
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) March 22, 2025
International Coordination and First Amendment Concerns
The documents obtained by AFL also expose the sharing of alleged “malinformation” from U.S. Department of State emails to UK government officials. This international coordination has raised significant concerns about sovereignty and government overreach. One particularly troubling aspect highlighted by AFL was the apparent lack of a firewall to prevent federal resources from being used for technologies that could have domestic impacts on American citizens’ speech rights.
The GEC and USAID reportedly collaborated on risk analysis programs to monitor “disinformation” narratives on various topics, including those related to the 2020 presidential elections in Moldova. Critics argue this demonstrates how tools developed for foreign application could easily be repurposed to monitor domestic political speech. AFL continues to pursue legal action against what it characterizes as government censorship activities that threaten First Amendment protections and free expression principles.
