The U.S. Global Engagement Center has abandoned its role following a withdrawal from multilateral agreements aimed at combating foreign disinformation, according to three European officials familiar with the situation.
Agreements terminated under Biden administration
The Biden administration revoked protocols initiated by the Global Engagement Center (GEC) at the State Department last year, designed to unify efforts in identifying and revealing malicious disinformation spread by foreign governments aiming to sow chaos, reported the Financial Times.
Disengagement declared a “unilateral disarmament” in information war
The head of the GEC called the end of these agreements “unilateral disarmament” in the information war against Russia and China. Approximately 22 countries in Europe and Africa had signed a memorandum on the issue last year.
Global Engagement Center history and closure
Established in 2011 to combat terrorist propaganda, the center’s role shifted to tracking and revealing foreign disinformation activities. Its operations came to an end last December after Republicans in Congress prevented its expiration mandate. The Trump administration later closed its temporary reorganization as a State Department office in April.
