House ndaa bill passed wamendment formally authorizing. The smith mundt modernization act of 2012 was incorporated into the national defense authorization act for fiscal year 20, pub. This prohibition act was passed as a result of a series of events in american history that drew the concern of those who wanted to secure a free press and the freedom of speech of the american people. To amend the united states information and educational. And so with that we have the smith mundt modernization act of 2012, which passed as part of the 20 national defense authorization act, and went into effect this month. On december 29, 2012, president barack obama signed hr 4310, the national defense authorization act. When the first incarnation of the smith mundt act was introduced by rep. Obama did not sign a law allowing propaganda in the u. The tweak to the bill would essentially neutralize two previous acts the smith mundt act of 1948 and foreign relations authorization act in 1987 that had been passed to protect u. To amend the united states information and educational exchange act of 1948 to authorize the domestic dissemination of information and material about the united states intended primarily for foreign audiences, and for other purposes. The smithmundt modernization act smma was buried in the 2012 national defense authorization act for good reason because it repealed the 1948 smithmundt act. Pdf the smithmundt acts ban on domestic propaganda. Pdf public diplomacy, smithmundt and the american public. Smithmundt act of 1948 did not prohibit access to government news by american media regulations congress exposes repeated violations of smithmundt act in usagm agencys facebook ads targeting americans.
Mac thornberry rtx and adam smith dwa to add their smith mundt modernization act of 2012 as an amendment to the house version of the 20 national defense authorization act. In 1948, the united states information and educational exchange act smith mundt act. Says president barack obama made it legal for the media to purposely lie to the public when he quietly signed into law hr 4310 in 2012. Introduced in house 05102012 smith mundt modernization act of 2012 amends the united states information and educational exchange act of 1948 to authorize the secretary of state and the broadcasting board of governors to provide for the preparation and dissemination of information intended for foreign audiences abroad about the united states, including about its people, its. The story was entitled, congressmen seek to lift propaganda ban, and focuses on the successful effort by reps. The amendment proposed by mac thornberry rtexas and adam smith dwash. The smith mundt modernization act of 2012, was eventually buried within the national defense authorization act for fiscal year 20 section 1078 a, passed into public law, effective on january 2, 20, and the smma portion amended the united states information and educational exchange act of 1948 and the foreign relations authorization act. This update to the smith mundt act of 1948 removes restraints imposed by senators in 1972 and 1985 that reflect the changing nature of international politics where public opinion. The reform was quietly inserted into the 20 national defense authorization act ndaa, and effectively nullified the original 1948 act. A brief history of the smithmundt act and why changing it. The smith mundt modernization act smma was buried in the 2012 national defense authorization act for good reason because it repealed the 1948 smith mundt act. The smithmundt modernization act of 2012, was eventually buried within the national defense authorization act for fiscal year 20 section 1078 a, passed into public law, effective on january 2, 20, and the smma portion amended the united states information and educational exchange act of 1948 and the foreign relations authorization act of. Obama signs ndaa 2012 legalizing use of propaganda and. The smithmundt modernization act of 2012, which was contained within the national defense authorization act for fiscal year 20 section 1078 a amended the united states information and educational exchange act of 1948 and the foreign relations authorization act of 1987, allowing for materials produced by the state department and the broadcasting board of governors bbg to be available within the united states.
New government propaganda bill a positive step for first. Amendments made to the smith mundt act of 1948 and foreign relations authorization act of 1987 allow for materials produced by the state department and the broadcasting board of governors bbg to be released within us borders. Information and educational exchange act of 1948, which authorized the state department to. With the national defense authorization act containing provisions for the usg to outright lie to the public, it is more than apparent the usg has declared war on american citizens.
The smithmundt modernization act of 2012 and the ugly. But these activities are governed by the original smith mundt act pdf, or the u. The smith mundt modernization act of 2012 appears to serve this purpose by allowing for the american public to be a target audience of u. The amendment did not repeal the smith mundt act, but rather lifted some restrictions on the domestic dissemination of governmentfunded media. The newest version of the national defense authorization act ndaa has an amendment added that negates the smith mundt act of 1948 sma and the foreign relations authorization act of 1987. Smithmundt modernization act of 2012 amends the united states information and educational exchange act of 1948 to authorize the secretary of state and the broadcasting board of governors to provide for the preparation and dissemination of information intended for foreign audiences abroad about the united states, including about its people. A large majority of concerned americans were focused on the indefinite detention of us citizens without trial clause contained in the ndaa, and. Repeals propaganda ban, spreads governmentmade news. The amendment updates the antiquated smith mundt act of 1948 and foreign relations authorization act of 1987, essentially clarifying that the us state department and the broadcasting board of governors may prepare, disseminate and use public diplomacy information abroad, but while also striking down a longlasting ban on the domestic. In fact, the smith mundt act as amended in 1987 only covers the select parts of the state department that are engaged in public diplomacy. Us governmentfunded domestic propaganda has officially. Why the federal government can now use propaganda on. Section 501 of the united states information and educational exchange act of 1948 22 u.
Will trump reinstate the smithmundt act obama repealed and once again ban state sponsored propaganda. What the smithmundt modernization act of 2012, which was incorporated into the fy 20 ndaa, did was to give government officials, specifically the state department and the broadcasting board of governors bbg officials, the power to disseminate these programs in the united states upon request. National defense authorization act for fiscal year 20. Section 208 of the foreign relations authorization act, fiscal years 1986 and 1987 22 u. The smith mundt modernization act of 2012 passed congress as part of the ndaa 20 on december 28, 2012. Will trump reinstate the smithmundt act obama repealed. Department of state, sometimes called public diplomacy. The newest version of the national defence authorization act ndaa includes an amendment that would legalise the use of propaganda on the american public, reports michael hastings of buzzfeed. The smithmundt act institutionalized the voice of america and create additional exchange programs beyond the original fulbright programs the act was originally introduced at the request of the.
The tweak to the bill would essentially neutralize two previous actsthe smith mundt act of 1948 and foreign relations authorization act in 1987that had been passed to protect u. Public law 80402 was signed, which established the charter for u. What the smith mundt modernization act of 2012, which was incorporated into the fy 20 ndaa, did was to give government officials, specifically the state department and the broadcasting board of governors bbg officials, the power to disseminate these programs in the united states upon request. Smithmundt act of 1948 did not prohibit access to government news by american media regulations congress exposes repeated violations of smithmundt act in. The smith mundt modernization act of 2012, which was contained within the national defense authorization act for fiscal year 20 section 1078 a amended the united states information and educational exchange act of 1948 and the foreign relations authorization act of 1987, allowing for materials produced by the state department and the. Under president obama, the law was changed with the smith mundt modernization act of 2012, an act sponsored by rep. A post circulating on facebook with a photo of obama falsely states he repealed a ban on government propaganda in the u. Further, the smithmundt act is the basic authorization that permits a broad range of activities. Smithmundt modernization act of 2012 introduced in the. Foreign relations authorization act, fiscal years 1986 and 1987 zorinsky amendment.
The smith mundt act, mk ultra, and lone wolf shooters. The smithmundt modernization act of 2012 river cities. The smith mundt act has ensured for decades that governmentmade media intended for foreign audiences doesnt end up on radio networks broadcast within the us. Imposed by the smith mundt act of 1948, the ban was motivated by fear of subversive elements at the state department, which was seen at the time by many cold war hawks as a communist redoubt. This act may be cited as the smithmundt modernization act of 2012. The smith mundt modernization act overturned a prohibition against domestic propaganda that had been in place since 1948. All that came to end with the national defense authorization act 20, the very same yearly act that previously brought you indefinite detention and presidential martial law powers without. How the ndaa allows us gov to use propaganda against. Exchange act of 1948 to authorize the domestic dissemi nation of information and. Smith mundt confront propaganda to prevent targeting of.
The horrible smithmundt modernization act of 2012 smma. Now, the smith mundt modernization act of 2012 part of the national defense authorization act has repealed the domestic prohibition, allowing the. The ndaa legalizes the use of propaganda on the us public. Information and educational exchange act of 1948 public law 80402, popularly called the smithmundt act, is the basic legislative authorization for. An amendment tagged onto the national defense authorization act removed that prohibition this year, however, and as of earlier this month those news stories meant for nations abroad. Abstractfor over sixty years, the smithmundt act prohibited the. The act was first introduced by congressman karl e. The smith mundt modernization act of 2012 should have similar bipartisan support at a time when public opinion has an even greater role than over six decades ago. Information and educational exchange act of 1948, also known as the smith mundt act, is a mostly unknown and widely misunderstood piece of legislation. Us information and educational exchange act of 1948. Information and educational exchange act of 1948 public law 80402, popularly called the smith mundt act, is the basic legislative authorization for propaganda activities conducted by the u. Smithmundt modernization act of 2012 amends the united states information and educational exchange act of 1948 to authorize the secretary of state and the broadcasting board of governors to provide for the preparation and dissemination of information intended for foreign audiences abroad about the united states, including about its people, its. Information and education act, which authorized the state department to engage in propagandizing foreign countries as a form of public diplomacy. Much ado about state department propaganda foreign policy.
Information and education act, which authorized the state department to engage in propagandizing foreign countries as a form of public. Further, it is not an appropriation thus it does not protect funding. Nothing in this act, however, shall authorize the assignment of such personnel for. The smith mundt modernization act of 2012 part of the national defense authorization act repealed the smith mundt act of 1948, which prohibited domestic propaganda. The ndaa also has an amendment added that negates the smith mundt act of 1948 sma and the foreign relations authorization act of 1987. These laws made propaganda used to influence foreigners and us citizens illegal. Sol bloom dil, rules committee chairman eugene cox dga decried giving the. Politifact no, obama didnt make it legal for media. The us information and educational exchange act of 1948 public law 402, popularly referred to as the smithmundt act, specifies the terms in which the u.
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