Disinformation and the Smith-Mundt Act

 


I chose to speak on the word "Disinformation" today.  This word has become extremely popular. Since the election of President Donald Trump in 2016, this word has been used more times than I can count. We hear it on TV on every news channel. We read it in every newspaper. We see it on social media platforms. The word is everywhere!!!  But what does it actually mean? Some people mistakenly use it interchangeably with the word "misinformation." Although these two words sound similar, they have very different meanings. "Misinformation" is false information given out by mistake with no malicious intent. However, "Disinformation" is false information given out deliberately and with the intent to mislead or deceive. As you can see these two words mean very different things. Unfortunately, today we see disinformation way more than we should. 

Disinformation is defined as "false information which is intended to mislead especially propaganda issued by a government organization to a rival power or the media." In 1948, US Congress passed the Smith-Mundt Act which prohibited our government from using departments, agencies, and tax dollars to propagandize to the American people. This ensured that our media would remain a "free press." However, in 2012, under the Obama administration, this Act was amended by Congress.  The new Smith-Mundt Modernization Act allowed public officials and the military to disseminate propaganda to the American people. By passing this Amendment, Congress disposed of the propaganda protections and permitted government agencies to create media news. This affects society as a whole. This affects every man, woman, and child.  A free press, which Americans, once took for granted, no longer existed. 



We saw this as early as 2016 during President Trump's Presidential campaign. Hillary Clinton's campaign in conjunction with the FBI and CIA created a fake dossier claiming that then-candidate Donald Trump was working with the Russian government. Trump Russia Dossier This disinformation was disseminated across the airwaves, on every TV, and on every social media platform. This hoax is the quintessential example of disinformation. It literally fits the actual definition: "false information which is intended to mislead especially propaganda issued by a government organization to a rival power or the media." The Clinton campaign deliberately spread this disinformation regarding Trump in order to influence public opinion.

Bill Wilson from "Pray the News" said it best when he stated, "This legislation opens the door for the government to legally lie to the American people." Opinion: Government Propaganda Exposed That is exactly what the government did in 2016. The FBI created this lie in conjunction with the Hillary Clinton campaign and lied to the American people. Since Congress made propaganda legal in 2013, it has become more difficult for Americans to tell what is true. As I stated before, disinformation affects everyone, especially in an election year. If we cannot believe what our media is telling us and it is allowed to lie to us, how will we make informed decisions? 

What do you all think? Do you think Congress made a mistake by passing the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act in 2012?


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