This article was written by Tyler Durden and originally published at Zero Hedge.
Editor’s Comment: This country was founded upon the principals of unlimited surveillance, intimidation by officials, interference with independent reporting and a suspicious disregard for foreign voices and influence – that’s what 1776 was all about. That’s what makes this a free country. What the PATRIOT Act and the NDAA didn’t give enough of, these new “laws” and outlets for McCarthyist harassment will deliver to Americans.
A trampled and trashed Constitution. Cowering before enemies. Silencing dissent and treating observant and angry patriots like they are the enemy. This new wave of anti-Russian paranoia at the official level stands to be quite damaging to those who have been openly critical of the federal government’s activities over the past several administrations.
Orwellian days are ahead for sure…
Senate Quietly Passes The “Countering Disinformation And Propaganda Act”
by Tyler Durden
While we wait to see if and when the Senate will pass (and president will sign) Bill “H.R. 6393, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017″, which was passed by the House at the end of November with an overwhelming majority and which seeks to crack down on websites suspected of conducting Russian propaganda and calling for the US government to “counter active measures by Russia to exert covert influence … carried out in coordination with, or at the behest of, political leaders or the security services of the Russian Federation and the role of the Russian Federation has been hidden or not acknowledged publicly,” another, perhaps even more dangerous and limiting to civil rights and freedom of speech bill passed on December 8.
Recall that as we reported in early June, “a bill to implement the U.S.’ very own de facto Ministry of Truth has been quietly introduced in Congress. As with any legislation attempting to dodge the public spotlight the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act of 2016 marks a further curtailment of press freedom and another avenue to stultify avenues of accurate information. Introduced by Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Ted Lieu, H.R. 5181 seeks a “whole-government approach without the bureaucratic restrictions” to counter “foreign disinformation and manipulation,” which they believe threaten the world’s “security and stability.”
Also called the Countering Information Warfare Act of 2016 (S. 2692), when introduced in March by Sen. Rob Portman, the legislation represents a dramatic return to Cold War-era government propaganda battles. “These countries spend vast sums of money on advanced broadcast and digital media capabilities, targeted campaigns, funding of foreign political movements, and other efforts to influence key audiences and populations,” Portman explained, adding that while the U.S. spends a relatively small amount on its Voice of America, the Kremlin provides enormous funding for its news organization, RT.“Surprisingly,”
Portman continued, “there is currently no single U.S. governmental agency or department charged with the national level development, integration and synchronization of whole-of-government strategies to counter foreign propaganda and disinformation.”
Long before the “fake news” meme became a daily topic of extensive conversation on wuch mainstream fake news portals as CNN and WaPo, H.R. 5181 would rask the Secretary of State with coordinating the Secretary of Defense, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Broadcasting Board of Governors to “establish a Center for Information Analysis and Response,” which will pinpoint sources of disinformation, analyze data, and — in true dystopic manner — ‘develop and disseminate’ “fact-based narratives” to counter effrontery propaganda.
* * *
Fast forward to this past Thursday, December 8, when the “Countering Disinformation and Propaganda Act” passed in the Senate, quietly inserted inside the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report.
Here is the full statement issued by the generously funded Senator Rob Portman (R- Ohio) on the passage of a bill that further chips away at press liberties in the US, and which sets the stage for future which hunts and website shutdowns, purely as a result of an accusation that any one media outlet or site is considered as a source of “disinformation and propaganda” and is shut down by the government.
Senate Passes Major Portman-Murphy Counter-Propaganda Bill as Part of NDAA
Portman/Murphy Bill Promotes Coordinated Strategy to Defend America, Allies Against Propaganda and Disinformation from Russia, China & Others
U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) today announced that their Countering Disinformation and Propaganda Act – legislation designed to help American allies counter foreign government propaganda from Russia, China, and other nations – has passed the Senate as part of the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report. The bipartisan bill, which was introduced by Senators Portman and Murphy in March, will improve the ability of the United States to counter foreign propaganda and disinformation by establishing an interagency center housed at the State Department to coordinate and synchronize counter-propaganda efforts throughout the U.S. government. To support these efforts, the bill also creates a grant program for NGOs, think tanks, civil society and other experts outside government who are engaged in counter-propaganda related work. This will better leverage existing expertise and empower local communities to defend themselves from foreign manipulation.
“The passage of this bill in the Senate today takes us one critical step closer to effectively confronting the extensive, and destabilizing, foreign propaganda and disinformation operations being waged against us. While the propaganda and disinformation threat has grown, the U.S. government has been asleep at the wheel. Today we are finally signaling that enough is enough; the United States will no longer sit on the sidelines. We are going to confront this threat head-on,” said Senator Portman. “With the help of this bipartisan bill, the disinformation and propaganda used against our allies and our interests will fail.”
“Congress has taken a big step in fighting back against fake news and propaganda from countries like Russia. When the president signs this bill into law, the United States will finally have a dedicated set of tools and resources to confront our adversaries’ widespread efforts to spread false narratives that undermine democratic institutions and compromise America’s foreign policy goals,” said Murphy. “I’m proud of what Senator Portman and I accomplished here because it’s long past time for the U.S. to get off the sidelines and confront these growing threats.”
NOTE: The bipartisan Countering Disinformation and Propaganda Act is organized around two main priorities to help achieve the goal of combatting the constantly evolving threat of foreign disinformation. They are as follows:
* * *
In other words, the Act will i) greenlight the government to crack down with impunity against any media property it deems “propaganda”, and ii) provide substantial amounts of money fund an army of “local journalist” counterpropaganda, to make sure the government’s own fake news drowns that of the still free “fringes.”
So while packaged politely in a veneer of “countering disinformation and propaganda”, the bill, once signed by Obama, will effectively give the government a full mandate to punish, shut down or otherwise prosecute, any website it deems offensive and a source of “foreign government propaganda from Russia, China or other nations.” And since there is no formal way of proving whether or not there is indeed a foreign propaganda sponsor, all that will be sufficient to eliminate any “dissenting” website, will be the government’s word against that of the website. One can be confident that the US government will almost certainly prevail in every single time.
This article was written by Tyler Durden and originally published at Zero Hedge.
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This is the thin end of the wedge in the act of shackling freedom of speech. If the news isn’t “official”, it doesn’t get out???
Welcome to it… comrades
“The constitution” VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW…
BADGES ARE REDCOATS..
people need to grasp this, we are living in pre 1776 days. the crown/royals/elites act today with impunity.
nothing will change as the redcoats are the ones whom ALWAYS stop protests, stifle dissent and use WEAPONS OF WAR against our people whenever we assemble. then the system we assemble against state “unlawful assembly” (how convenient and coincedental) and the redcoats go to war.
FOR PROFIT PRISONS. CIVIL ASSET FORFEITURE> this alone is the proof!!
did our founding fathers rationalize TYRANTS with phrases like “the redcoats are just following orders”, “its really king george” or “they are arresting theives, they are on out side”..???
One little problem– God is Truth and there is no way in hell they can win this battle.
Mac,
It’s “witch hunts”, not “which hunts”.
sheesh.
Our computers are not designated “free speech zones”. You must take your computer to the fenced in area and get permission to turn it on.
Him, the entire country is a ‘free speech zone’ as far as I’m concerned. I don’t care what congress passes. I won’t follow it.
That’s right Brave!
From Sea To Shinning Sea.
period.
Reminds me of the Soviets…just before their empire imploded.
Bastards keep pushing they are going to get a very tall tree for Christmas with lots of big strong limbs on them about 10 feet high!!!
If you get my drift.
Sgt.
Sgt. Dale,
My thoughts as well!!
Well I for one am certainly no stranger to censorship.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CoPFEKruyIM
How dare you “diplorables” vote TRUMP to the POS. We will now punish you further.!!!!!
J, just bring it on. I’m deplorable and proud!
This might be one of those “banned” sites. This needs to see the light of day.
When they shut down the Internet (websites for Truth), then the full blown Revolution takes place. Happened in other countries. People get bored. Internet is out outlet. No Internet= revolution occurs.
Mac, can you go to a Russian based website and let us know the new name? I’m not computer-savy, but I do have an email account with yandex.com, which is Russian… Don’t know how all that works. but I do know the NSA can’t touch you at yandex.com… can’t spy on you, anyhow.
TAKE NOTE OF THE NAMES OF THE TRAITORS:
Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Chris Murphy (D-CT).
“Here is the full statement issued by the generously funded Senator Rob Portman (R- Ohio) on the passage of a bill that further chips away at press liberties in the US…
Senate Passes Major Portman-Murphy Counter-Propaganda Bill as Part of NDAA…
Portman/Murphy Bill Promotes Coordinated Strategy to Defend America, Allies Against Propaganda and Disinformation from Russia, China & Others…
U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) today announced that their Countering Disinformation and Propaganda Act – legislation designed to help American allies counter foreign government propaganda from Russia, China…”
see em? them bundles of sticks on either side of the flag. top photo. they are called fasces and they are the symbol of fascism. surprised?
fasces
(in ancient Rome) a bundle of rods with a projecting ax blade, carried by a lictor as a symbol of a magistrate’s power, and used as an emblem of authority in Fascist Italy.
The symbol is a throwback to Ancient Rome, an empire brought down in part by J*ws; and an attempt by the Italians to regain control of Italy usurped by an alien J*wish minority as fascists two thousand years later.
It is interesting that Portman is a J*wish name. The other name sounds Irish, but like Senator Kerry, could be changed.
There is no doubt that the J*wish extremist supremist power in America is attempting to cut the balls off the Alt Right News and leave them castrated, while at the same time deflecting responsibility onto others.
__ this is an exciting time to live. There is a power struggle between J*wish globalists and those who love freedom and have cultural pride.
My question is, are they going to shut down the propaganda promoting MSM ? I mean let’s give equal treatment and fairness. Russia could be influencing them……you think??????
To tell the truth, to arrive together at the truth, is a communist and revolutionary act.
~ Unsigned, written by Antonio Gramsci in collaboration with Palmiro Togliatti, L’Ordine Nuovo, 21 June 1919, Vol. 1, No. 7.
—
In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
~ G. Orwell
—-
http://quoteinvestigator.com/2013/02/24/truth-revolutionary/
I’ve been watching this with keen interest. There *ARE* limits to our first amendment right to “free speech”. You can’t stand up in a theater and yell “FIRE!” if there is no fire– people will be trampled and killed. You can’t incite a riot, or engage in speech that involves a call to action (e.g.: “kill Trump!”). It has not been decided by the SCOTUS yet, but when you have a news monopoly that many Amerikans listen to and/or watch (and believe), then that news outlet no longer has the freedom to knowingly and intentionally make false assertions, when doing so could cause someone to be harmed.
So, that brings us to the “fake news” assertions. First, the information on Hillary’s 30K+ “missing” emails was obtained from a whistle-blower in the NSA. The DNC was not “hacked”– the information was obtained from a (now murdered) IT person that had access to the servers with an administrator’s password. The [very damning] emails from Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner’s home computer (and smart phones) were obtained under a valid search warrant. So there was *NO* involvement from Russia, other than the fact that the information may have passed through a Russian proxy server for attempted anonymity. We had, and *still* have, the major news outlets making false assertions about Russian hacking of the election. They are *still* making false assertions about Trump and also about alternative news media outlets have said.
Remember– in law, what ever is good for the goose is also good for the gander. The laws that they *think* they are enacting to censor so-called “fake news” outlets (which translates to: “anyone we don’t like”), can just as easily be used *AGAINST* such news outlets like “The Washington Post”, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, PBS, etc. So, it is not just limited to the alternative news outlets.
When Trump takes office [and he *WILL* take office or 80 million heavily armed patriots will tear down this government, and build a new one that better serves the will of The People], he will have unprecedented power to go after these globalist-run disinformation “news” outlets. AND– now that the CIA has shown it’s cards, I would not be terribly surprised if Trump decides to break apart the CIA, and transfer it’s various operations to the DIA and/or some other “more trusted” intelligence agency [there are dozens of them to choose from].