Government Payments to News Agency Raise Concerns

A recent investigation by DOGE revealed that the US Defense Department made secret payments to Reuters, a major news agency, for a project titled "large scale social deception." The project, which ran from 2018 to 2022, was allegedly intended for cyber defense, according to DARPA, a Defense Department agency.

However, many people are questioning why a news agency, not a cybersecurity company, would receive millions of dollars for a project involving "social engineering." Social engineering is a tactic used to manipulate people's behavior, often through misinformation or propaganda.

The fact that Reuters, a reputable news organization, received funding for this project has raised concerns about the government's influence on the media. It's not clear whether Reuters' reporting was affected by the project, or whether the funding was used to promote a particular agenda.

This revelation comes at a time when other media outlets are facing scrutiny over federal funding. The public has the right to know whether news agencies are receiving funding from the government and what projects they are working on.

What do you think?

Should the government be funding news agencies for projects that involve social engineering? Should news organizations be transparent about their funding sources? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Sources:

USASpendingGov, @stillgray

DOGE investigation