Disinformation Inc: Watchdogs blast State Department for funding group blacklisting conservative media

Gabe Kaminsky, Washington Examiner
 
EXCLUSIVE — Watchdog groups have raised concerns over the State Department bankrolling a “disinformation” tracking group that is secretly blacklisting and trying to defund conservative media outlets.
 
The Washington Examiner revealed on Thursday that the Global Disinformation Index, a British organization with two affiliated U.S. nonprofit groups, is hauling in cash with the intent of defunding and shutting down disfavored speech. Now, several watchdogs are calling out the State Department for funding this group , which is feeding its blacklist to major ad companies.
 
Another watchdog, Protect the Public’s Trust, said the idea of the State Department funding groups “targeting Americans” turns the Constitution “on its head.”
 
“The founders’ fears of the awesome power and resources of the government being used to silence those who don’t spout the government line is precisely why we have a First Amendment,” Michael Chamberlain, the group’s director, told the Washington Examiner. “As each layer of government involvement in the vast and growing censorship industry is peeled back, what we see gets more disturbing and, frankly, scary for anyone concerned about the ideals upon which this nation was founded.”
 
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