Disinformation Inc: Watchdog launches sweeping investigation into conservative blacklists
- February 22, 2023
Gabe Kaminsky, Washington Examiner
EXCLUSIVE — A watchdog group has launched a sweeping records investigation in order to obtain critical information in connection to the United States government bankrolling a “disinformation” tracking group that is blacklisting conservative news websites, the Washington Examiner learned.
Protect the Public’s Trust filed seven Freedom of Information Act requests on Wednesday to the State Department and a nonprofit group it supports called the National Endowment for Democracy, as well as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
The Washington Examiner previously reported that the NED, as well as the State Department-backed Global Engagement Center, had granted $665,000 combined to the Global Disinformation Index between 2020 and 2021.
“The last thing the American public should expect is that their taxes would end up in the hands of those who would trample their rights,” said PPT Director Michael Chamberlain. “Yet the State Department, which exists to represent Americans’ interests abroad, and other government agencies have been handing out money to organizations that have apparently been targeting American media outlets based upon their political views.”
PPT is also requesting correspondence between GEC officials with Atlantic Council personnel, as well as GDI personnel, such as CEO Clare Melford. The council partnered with the State Department for the U.S.-Paris Tech Challenge, the Washington Examiner reported.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency was also a partner for the challenge, according to the Atlantic Council. Therefore, PPT seeks communications between 24 different CISA personnel, including ex-Director Christopher Krebs, with GDI and Atlantic Council personnel.
“Though the agencies can deny they are funding this activity, money is fungible, and these organizations can claim the government’s stamp of approval for their operations,” Chamberlain added. “This represents yet another putrid layer of the vast censorship apparatus.”