US Abandons Global Disinformation Fight, Sparking Concerns of Increased Foreign Interference
Washington, D.C. – In a move that has sent ripples of concern throughout Europe and beyond, the United States State Department has formally terminated memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with numerous European countries. These agreements, established under the Biden administration, were the cornerstone of a collaborative effort to combat the rising tide of disinformation emanating from nations like Russia, China, and Iran. This abrupt termination, revealed by the Financial Times and confirmed by several European officials, signals a significant shift in US foreign policy and raises troubling questions about the nation’s commitment to combating foreign influence operations.
The now-defunct MOUs were a key component of the Global Engagement Center’s (GEC) mission. Established in 2011 to counter online terrorist propaganda and violent extremism, the GEC’s mandate was later broadened to encompass the detection and exposure of foreign disinformation campaigns. These agreements provided a framework for international cooperation, enabling the sharing of intelligence, coordinating responses, and collectively countering the spread of manipulative narratives. James Rubin, former head of the GEC, has sharply criticized the termination of these agreements, labeling it a “unilateral act of disarmament” in the ongoing information war against Russia and China. He estimates that approximately 22 countries in Europe and Africa were signatories to these now-abandoned pacts.
The decision to terminate these agreements marks the culmination of a series of actions that have systematically dismantled the US government’s apparatus for combating disinformation. Critics of the GEC, primarily allies of former President Donald Trump, had long accused the Center of censorship and political bias. These accusations intensified following the GEC’s 2024 report implicating the Russian state-funded media outlet RT in cyber-espionage and attempts to interfere with Moldova’s presidential election. Leveraging these allegations, the Trump administration initiated a campaign to discredit and ultimately dismantle the GEC.
In December 2024, the Global Engagement Center was shut down, its functions ostensibly transferred to another State Department unit. However, this proved to be a temporary reprieve. In March of the following year, then-Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the dissolution of this successor unit as well, echoing earlier accusations of censorship and misuse of funds. Rubio claimed the GEC, under the Biden administration, had spent millions of dollars to “actively silence and censor the voices of Americans,” a charge that the Biden administration vehemently denied. This dismantling of the GEC and the subsequent termination of international agreements represent a significant departure from the previous administration’s emphasis on combating foreign disinformation.
The ramifications of this policy shift are substantial and far-reaching. The termination of the MOUs effectively dismantles the established framework for international cooperation in combating disinformation. This leaves a vacuum that hostile actors are likely to exploit. Without a coordinated international response, individual nations are left more vulnerable to sophisticated disinformation campaigns that aim to sow societal discord, undermine democratic institutions, and manipulate public opinion. Experts warn that this could embolden foreign interference in elections, exacerbate existing social divisions, and erode trust in legitimate news sources.
The decision to abandon these international agreements raises serious concerns about the United States’ commitment to combating foreign influence operations. It sends a message of disengagement to allies and adversaries alike, potentially signaling a retreat from the global information battlefield. The long-term consequences of this decision remain to be seen, but the immediate impact is clear: a weakening of the international front against disinformation and a greater vulnerability to foreign manipulation. The international community now faces the challenge of forging new alliances and strategies to counter this growing threat, a task made more difficult by the absence of US leadership.