Tue Sep 17 06:00:00 UTC 2024: ## State Department Accused of Using Taxpayer Money to Blacklist US Media Outlets
**Washington, D.C.** – Investigations by journalists Matt Taibbi and Gabe Kaminsky have revealed a disturbing pattern of the State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC) using taxpayer funds to suppress dissenting voices and control media narratives.
The GEC, tasked with combating foreign disinformation, appears to have expanded its scope to target American media outlets critical of the government’s messaging.
Taibbi, known for his “Twitter Files” exposé, has shown how the GEC pressured social media companies to censor information, particularly during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The GEC, in conjunction with other government agencies, actively pushed to suppress discussions about the origins of the virus, particularly the lab leak theory, which would have been damaging to the government’s narrative.
Kaminsky, a reporter for the Washington Examiner, has unearthed a $100,000 grant from the GEC to the Global Disinformation Index (GDI), a London-based organization that has compiled a blacklist of conservative and libertarian media outlets, including the New York Post. The GDI, funded by the GEC, worked to financially pressure these outlets by influencing advertising decisions.
The State Department, instead of addressing the allegations, has resorted to accusations of “misinformation” against Taibbi and Kaminsky, claiming their reports are “missing, inferred, or presented out of context.” They also have attempted to link critics of the GEC with Russian influence operations.
The GEC has been further criticized for its involvement in monitoring and suppressing speech on social media platforms, utilizing outside groups like the Digital Forensic Research Lab.
These revelations have sparked bipartisan concerns. Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) has condemned the GEC’s practices as a threat to free speech, while Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) has downplayed the allegations.
The State Department’s own internal documents, obtained by the New York Post, show no remorse for the GEC’s actions. They attempt to shift the blame to the journalists and Elon Musk while claiming they have been “responsive” to inquiries, despite their evasive answers and stonewalling tactics.
The news of the GEC’s activities has sparked outrage among those concerned about government overreach and the suppression of free speech. The issue is likely to continue garnering attention as investigations into the GEC’s activities progress.
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