The Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012 is an amendment to the original Smith-Mundt Act of 1948, which was enacted to regulate the dissemination of information by the U.S. government aimed at foreign audiences, primarily through the Voice of America and other U.S. government-funded media outlets. Here’s an overview of what the modernization act entails:
Original Purpose: The Smith-Mundt Act was designed to prevent the U.S. government from using propaganda on its citizens by restricting the domestic dissemination of information produced for foreign audiences. It was believed that such materials might be biased or aimed at influencing public opinion in ways not suitable for domestic consumption.
Modernization Act of 2012:
Amendment: This act, included within the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, modernized the original Smith-Mundt Act. It allows for materials produced by the State Department and the Broadcasting Board of Governors (now the U.S. Agency for Global Media) for foreign audiences to be made available within the United States upon request. This change was aimed at transparency, allowing Americans access to the information their government was sharing internationally.
Misconceptions: There’s been considerable debate and misinformation regarding this act. Some claim it allows the U.S. government to legally spread propaganda domestically, but this is an oversimplification. The act does not permit the government to produce propaganda for American audiences; rather, it allows content created for foreign audiences to be accessible in the U.S. if requested, which was seen as a move towards transparency rather than a license for domestic propaganda.
Public Perception and Debate: Despite clarifications, there’s a narrative among some groups that this act was a vehicle for allowing the U.S. government to influence public opinion domestically under the guise of foreign policy communication. Critics argue this could potentially be used for propaganda, while supporters view it as enhancing transparency by making government-produced content accessible to all.
Implications:
Transparency: Proponents argue that allowing domestic access to this material makes the government’s international messaging more accountable to the American public.
Potential for Misuse: Critics worry about the potential for misuse, where the line between information and propaganda might blur, especially in an era where media consumption and manipulation are increasingly sophisticated.
Fact Check and Analysis: Various fact-checking organizations and legal reviews have pointed out that the act itself does not repeal the prohibitions on propaganda aimed at U.S. citizens but rather adjusts the accessibility of materials created for foreign audiences. The U.S. government remains barred from producing material intended to influence domestic public opinion, with specific exceptions for informational materials like those provided by the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
This summary reflects the essence of the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act, focusing on its legislative intent, public interpretation, and the ongoing debate about its implications for domestic information dissemination by the U.S. government.
There is definitely no way to stop a single lie from being told however you can 100% stop propaganda tactics from being used against the American people.
Equally as harmful as our government lying to us, our media makes it up as they go. They have single-handedly lied non-stop and caused they divided in our country. They should lose their licenses.
Yes! I joined this page for this reason. Obama flooding the town square with so much sewage we can’t determine what is and isn’t fact. The MSM changed their FCC license to entertainment and can spew all the sewage they are told to . Go back to the true definition of journalism. News should be reported facts nothing more. Take this away from anyone to use to deceive the real bosses of the government, us citizens.
This should include, and I will propose, that this include classification of information. Our government should have no secrets from the American people. Our government should not being doing anything at home or abroad without the consent of the people and therefore there is no need for secrecy.
The only exceptions I would grant(but open to suggestion) is 2.
1: technology. Obviously certain physical items and technology will need to be classified to secure nuclear secrets, data&encryption, etc.
-a better way to distinguish these exceptions would be greatly appreciated-
2: perhaps some short term classifications on things like military strategies, plans, and tactics etc. to prevent enemy knowledge. But these classifications should be extremely limited in scope and very short in time. A military operation need not be “secret” for more than perhaps 1-2 years. Thus allowing any illegal or unauthorized activity to be held accountable to the American people before all those who did it are dead.
Thank you for this! I made an account just to make a post about this issue. The Smith-Mundt Act needs to be restored to the original version that was meant to protect the American people from propaganda!
This is the most divisive issue facing us as a nation. The news must return to unbiased facts! Any broadcast company who knowingly spreads falsehoods should face consequence!
If the word News is in the title of your channel, show, podcast, etc. it should be just that, 100% unbiased non-opinion straight up facts only NEWS! If not you can be fined or shut down by the FCC. Fox, CNN, MSNBC will be called Opinion based information sources.
This was the very first thought I had when this webpage was discussed on the interwebs.
We need honest journalism, the people need to believe the media. Currently with the ability to use propaganda in American media it is hard to educate due to the propaganda brainwashing.
America deserves the truth, the journalists that worked hard at learning their craft deserve a job that values the truth.
The media told us a bunch of things, a lot of it misleading and dishonest.
Turns out, if the Security State (NSA, CIA, FBI, etc) infers it’s a matter of “National Security” to run with a story, they do as directed. This is because of a change to laws under the 44th President.
Media designed for international propaganda may be used domestically as well. Before 2012, these two types of media were made distinct and separate. Also, psychological priming happens daily. When the media outlets make a claim, true or not, then officials (Congress, executive or otherwise) may cite the media, thereby calling for investigation by and assistance of the National security machine. Anyone may become a target, as long as the propaganda machine makes a claim.
Id disagree here.
There can be a trail of moves that telegraph to hostiles our military strategies.
I think there does need to be parameters as anything we know, hostiles eould know. Perhaps a delay of 5-10 years drpending on the information (only applying this to military info)
President Clinton replied, “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.” Clinton explained that if “is” meant “never has been” that is one thing; but, if “is” meant “there is none currently” then the statement by Mr. Bennett was correct.
the lawfare is prevalent. any citizen can be found guilty on trumped up charges. when the lawfare begins all words are subject to a definition change. blacks law dictionary was the standard. think this policy should include all media based enterprise use of blacks law dictionary for clarity of what we are talking about. further, make mandatory all judges and legal system use of blacks law dictionary. stop the mincing of words.
Make it a felony when caught in a lie. Use the same standard for any one claiming to be “news”! If the consequences are big enough, maybe they will all quit lying to America!!!
They should also be made to publicly announce their own fraud even to the extent that their be a registy and website where their information is posted with full details on the original file, the edited file
