xsited on Nostr: Avoiding fake news allegations and countering misinformation or unreliable ...

Avoiding fake news allegations and countering misinformation or unreliable fact-checking requires a multifaceted approach that combines transparency, credibility, and critical thinking and might start here:

Committee: Foreign Affairs
Bill Number: XXXX
Sponsor: You

A Bill to Restore the Smith-Mundt Act of 1948 and Ensure Transparency in U.S. Government Media and Broadcasting

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Section 1. Short Title

This Act may be cited as the “Smith-Mundt Restoration and Transparency Act.”

Section 2. Findings and Purpose

We the People find the following:

1. The original Smith-Mundt Act of 1948, also known as the U.S. Information and Educational Exchange Act, was enacted to direct U.S. government information programs primarily toward foreign audiences, with restrictions on domestic dissemination.
2. The Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012 amended the original Act, removing the domestic dissemination ban on content produced by the U.S. Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors (now the United States Agency for Global Media, USAGM).
3. The 2012 repeal has raised concerns that government-produced media intended for foreign audiences could influence public opinion domestically.
4. Social media and digital platforms have further blurred the lines, enabling widespread, unintentional access to foreign-directed content within the United States.
5. Restoring the 1948 provisions with updated guidelines for transparency and oversight is necessary to maintain public trust and prevent inadvertent government influence on domestic audiences.

Section 3. Repeal of the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012

(a) Repeal: The provisions of the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012 are hereby repealed.

(b) Restoration of 1948 Restrictions: The original restrictions of the U.S. Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 shall be reinstated, limiting the domestic dissemination of state-produced media intended for foreign audiences.

Section 4. Definitions

For the purposes of this Act:

1. “Foreign Audiences” refers to non-U.S. residents and individuals outside U.S. territories.
2. “Domestic Dissemination” refers to the distribution or availability of media content within the United States.
3. “USAGM” refers to the United States Agency for Global Media, which supervises various state-funded media platforms including Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and others.
4. “Foreign Audience Material” refers to government-produced content intended exclusively for foreign audiences.

Section 5. Regulations on Domestic Access to Foreign-Directed Content

(a) Transparency in Public Access:

1. U.S. citizens may access government-produced media for foreign audiences upon request, via a publicly accessible government website.
2. This content shall be labeled as “Foreign Audience Material” and include a disclaimer noting its intended purpose for international audiences.

(b) Clear Labeling for Digital Platforms:

1. Any foreign-directed content that may reach U.S. audiences, particularly on social media or digital platforms, shall be clearly labeled with “Produced by the U.S. Government for Foreign Audiences.”
2. Digital platforms are encouraged to collaborate with government agencies to implement metadata tagging, watermarks, or disclaimers that make this label visible on all digital media shared by USAGM and affiliated agencies.

(c) Best Efforts in Content Management:

1. The State Department and USAGM shall make best efforts to prevent domestic audiences from directly accessing foreign-directed content.
2. These efforts should be documented and include coordination with digital and social media platforms to reduce incidental U.S. exposure.

Section 6. Safeguarding Standards of Integrity

(a) Journalistic Standards:

1. Content produced by USAGM and other relevant agencies for foreign audiences shall adhere to standards of journalistic integrity and factual accuracy consistent with domestic programming standards.

(b) Independent Review:

1. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall perform an independent audit to verify that standards are met, ensuring that content directed toward foreign audiences remains credible and non-propagandistic.

Section 7. Limited Role of the Government Accountability Office (GAO)

(a) Compliance Audit:

1. The GAO shall conduct a bi-annual compliance audit to verify the efforts of the State Department and USAGM in limiting domestic dissemination and properly labeling foreign-directed content.
2. The audit shall focus on compliance verification only, without direct oversight of content production or distribution.

(b) Self-Reporting Requirement:

1. The State Department and USAGM shall submit a compliance report to the GAO bi-annually, detailing steps taken to limit domestic exposure and maintain transparency.
2. The GAO shall audit these reports and issue a summary to Congress, detailing the agencies’ compliance efforts and any recommendations for improvement.

Section 8. Promoting Balanced Access to Global Information

(a) Public Access to Foreign Government Media:

1. To promote balanced access to information, U.S. citizens may access foreign state-sponsored media through an online portal provided by the State Department, to support a broader understanding of international perspectives.
2. The portal shall include a disclaimer that content is produced by foreign governments and may reflect those governments’ interests.

Section 9. Cost-Efficiency and Budgetary Oversight

(a) Cost-Effectiveness Requirement:

1. The GAO shall assess the cost-effectiveness of compliance efforts as part of its bi-annual audit.
2. The GAO report shall include any recommendations for improving budget efficiency in the enforcement of this Act.

Section 10. Enactment

This Act shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment.

End of Bill