A growing number of US states are introducing strict new laws aimed at combating the influence of China in their politics and society. Critics warn that these measures could have a chilling effect on free speech, while also creating an administrative albatross for ordinary citizens.
Several states have passed sweeping foreign influence registries, requiring businesses, universities, and humanitarian organizations to register as "foreign agents" if they conduct activities on behalf of a foreign principal – an organization or company at least 20% owned by a foreign entity. The laws have been dubbed the "second Red Scare," with critics likening them to the McCarthy era.
The introduction of these new laws has been fueled in part by two newly formed dark-money organizations, State Shield and State Armor. Both groups are backed by wealthy China critics who stand to gain from hawkish state policies. However, their donors remain shrouded in secrecy.
State Armor's founder, Michael Lucci, previously worked at a think tank funded by Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, while former Trump national security adviser Robert O'Brien sits on the group's board. Lucci has described the new Nebraska law as essential for preparing states to counter "political warfare."
Critics argue that these laws are overly broad and vague, potentially allowing the government to target individuals who express unpopular opinions or participate in protests. The stakes are high, with a $50,000 penalty under the proposed model legislation and the Nebraska bill.
"This bill is going to have a chilling effect on the basic rights of citizens," said Spike Eickholt of the ACLU of Nebraska. "There's been a lot of questions about this... You're not the first." The lack of clarity has left many wondering who must register under the new laws, with state governments wielding discretion in their enforcement.
As the US continues to grapple with its complex relationships with China and other foreign nations, critics are sounding an alarm about the dangers of unchecked power and the erosion of civil liberties.
Several states have passed sweeping foreign influence registries, requiring businesses, universities, and humanitarian organizations to register as "foreign agents" if they conduct activities on behalf of a foreign principal – an organization or company at least 20% owned by a foreign entity. The laws have been dubbed the "second Red Scare," with critics likening them to the McCarthy era.
The introduction of these new laws has been fueled in part by two newly formed dark-money organizations, State Shield and State Armor. Both groups are backed by wealthy China critics who stand to gain from hawkish state policies. However, their donors remain shrouded in secrecy.
State Armor's founder, Michael Lucci, previously worked at a think tank funded by Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, while former Trump national security adviser Robert O'Brien sits on the group's board. Lucci has described the new Nebraska law as essential for preparing states to counter "political warfare."
Critics argue that these laws are overly broad and vague, potentially allowing the government to target individuals who express unpopular opinions or participate in protests. The stakes are high, with a $50,000 penalty under the proposed model legislation and the Nebraska bill.
"This bill is going to have a chilling effect on the basic rights of citizens," said Spike Eickholt of the ACLU of Nebraska. "There's been a lot of questions about this... You're not the first." The lack of clarity has left many wondering who must register under the new laws, with state governments wielding discretion in their enforcement.
As the US continues to grapple with its complex relationships with China and other foreign nations, critics are sounding an alarm about the dangers of unchecked power and the erosion of civil liberties.
It feels like a way for politicians to silence dissenting voices without actually doing anything meaningful about China's influence. And let's be real, $50k is a pretty steep price to pay just for having an opinion that might ruffle some feathers 
. What's next? Registering as a 'fellow traveler' just because your grandma lives in China? 
It's easy to get caught up in the fear of foreign manipulation, but at the end of the day we need to be careful not to sacrifice our civil liberties for the sake of security... 
These new laws are like, so scary! They could literally stifle free speech and silence people who are just trying to express their opinions or stand up for what they believe in. I mean, can you even imagine having to register as a "foreign agent" just because you have friends or family members from China? It's like, totally unfair! 
. It feels like we're going back to a time when anyone who dares to speak out against the government or question US interests is viewed with suspicion. The fact that wealthy China critics are backing these groups is just a slap in the face – it's all about using fear and intimidation to silence dissenting voices 
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, I mean, who exactly is gonna get a $50k fine just for expressing an opinion? 
. It's just so suspicious! 
Can't we find a better way to address the issue without trampling on civil liberties? 
. I get that we need to be careful about foreign influence, but this feels like an overreaction 
. What's next? Are they gonna start snooping on our social media activity too 
?
. We need to make sure we're not losing the freedom to express ourselves or participate in the democratic process 
. This feels like a slippery slope where they can start targeting anyone who's 'too outspoken' 
. Not cool, US 
. What's next? Registering as a "foreign agent" if you watch Chinese movies or attend Chinese cultural events?! 
I'm getting major "second Red Scare" vibes from these new laws 
... what's next? Registering everyone who disagrees with the admin? 
It's like they're trying to create an administrative albatross 
around ordinary citizens' heads... and those dark-money orgs are just adding fuel to the fire 
... I'm all for critical thinking & awareness, but not at the cost of our basic rights 
... we need more clarity on who's eligible for these laws & what exactly they entail 
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. What's next? Registering every time you tweet about politics? It's like they're trying to create this "second Red Scare" vibe, but honestly, it just feels like censorship 
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. Who are these guys really working for? It's not just the politicians - there are donors hiding in plain sight 
. We need to be careful about where we draw the line between national security and individual rights 
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i just want to be able to express my opinion without being worried about getting in trouble. and who gets to decide who's a "foreign agent" anyway? seems like a lot of room for abuse of power