FBI Resumes Outreach to Social Media Companies Regarding Foreign Propaganda”
The FBI has restarted its efforts to collaborate with American tech companies in sharing information about foreign propagandists using their platforms, following a hiatus of more than six months. The initiative, initiated during the Trump administration, involved briefing major tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, and Meta whenever evidence of covert influence operations targeting Americans was detected.
The program was paused earlier this year due to a lawsuit filed by Republican attorneys general and intense scrutiny from the House Judiciary Committee, led by Jim Jordan. However, with the lawsuit awaiting a Supreme Court ruling, the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force has resumed outreach efforts to facilitate information-sharing with social media companies.
The renewed outreach does not impose any obligation on tech companies to take action based on the shared information. While the full extent of the resumed program remains unclear, it signals a renewed focus on combating foreign malign influence on social media platforms.
Despite the hiatus in government-led briefings, some tech companies continued to share information about propaganda campaigns amongst themselves. This underscores the ongoing efforts within the tech industry to address the spread of misinformation and disinformation.
