The claim that former President Barack Obama repealed the Smith-Mundt Act in 2012, allowing the government to spread propaganda on TV and radio, is false. The law was actually amended in 2013, not repealed, and it only applies to broadcasts produced for foreign audiences, not traditional media outlets. The amendment allows for American citizens to request access to content produced by entities like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe. Despite claims that this change has led to the spread of fake news from outlets like MSNBC, CNN, and ABC, the law specifically prohibits government-funded media from using taxpayer funds to influence public opinion in the U.S.
Experts and the law itself confirm that the amendment does not permit the U.S. government to disseminate propaganda to Americans. Instead, the amendment promotes transparency and accountability within the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which operates foreign-oriented broadcast services. The American Civil Liberties Union has praised the amendment for its positive impact on the First Amendment.
The claim has been widely circulated on social media platforms and was reposted by billionaire Elon Musk. However, the assertion that Obama repealed the law in question is inaccurate. While the amendment does allow for greater access to foreign-produced content for American citizens, it does not authorize the spread of propaganda to U.S. audiences. Overall, the claim does not hold up to fact-checking and misrepresents the actual impact of the legislative change.
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