Protect the First Amendment Act
Summary
The "Protect the First Amendment Act" (H.R. 4067) aims to prevent the Federal Government from using funds to contract with or provide awards to specific entities, namely NewsGuard Technologies, Inc. and Global Disinformation Index, that are involved in rating the credibility of domestic entities based on their speech. The bill defines "covered behavior" as activities that demonetize or rate the credibility of domestic entities based on their lawful speech, particularly concerning misinformation, disinformation, or malinformation. The bill targets organizations that evaluate the truthfulness of information.
Expected Effects
If enacted, this bill would prohibit federal agencies from contracting with or providing grants to NewsGuard and Global Disinformation Index. This could limit the influence of these organizations on the perceived credibility and monetization of news and information outlets. It may also affect the ability of federal agencies to rely on these organizations for assessing information quality.
Potential Benefits
- Potentially protects free speech by preventing government funding of entities that may censor or deplatform lawful speech.
- Could prevent the government from indirectly influencing the information landscape through funding decisions.
- May foster a more diverse and open media environment by preventing the demonetization of certain viewpoints.
- Could reduce the potential for bias in government-supported assessments of information credibility.
- Could ensure taxpayer money is not used to support organizations perceived as engaging in censorship.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- May hinder efforts to combat the spread of misinformation and disinformation, potentially impacting public health and safety.
- Could limit the government's ability to identify and address foreign interference in elections or other critical issues.
- May reduce the accountability of news and information outlets, potentially leading to the spread of harmful content.
- Could be interpreted as government censorship by preventing the government from funding certain organizations based on their viewpoints.
- May create uncertainty about how the government should assess the credibility of information in the absence of these organizations.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's stated purpose aligns with the First Amendment's protection of freedom of speech. By preventing the government from funding entities that may engage in censorship, the bill seeks to prevent indirect restrictions on speech. However, some may argue that it infringes on the government's ability to inform itself and the public, potentially hindering its ability to address misinformation. The alignment with the constitution is complex and depends on the interpretation of free speech and government authority.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).