US shut down center that exposed propaganda of Russia and its accomplices

US State Department chief Marco Rubio noted that over the past decade Americans have been stigmatized, fired, charged and even jailed for simply expressing their opinions, and added that “today that will end.”

"I am announcing the closure of the State Department's division of the Resisting Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (R/FIMI), formerly known as the Global Engagement Center (GEC). It cost taxpayers more than $50 million a year and actively silenced and censored the voices of the Americans they were supposed to serve," Rubio wrote.

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Mike Benz, executive director of the Foundation for Online Freedom, reported that the State Department placed all 30 full-time employees of the remnants of R/FIMI on leave on April 16, eliminated all 50 staff positions, and sent a notice to Congress terminating R/FIMI and its $65 million in funding.

The Global Engagement Center (GEC) was formed in 2016. It was engaged in countering foreign propaganda and disinformation, particularly from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

Photo: Ukrpravda.

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