H.R. 417, the End U.N. Censorship Act, would block U.S. government funds from being used to support the United Nations Development Programme’s iVerify tool, or any similar platform that labels speech or expression as disinformation. It also prohibits federal funding for any effort that attempts to categorize or label information as mal-, mis-, or disinformation, and it bars voluntary U.S. contributions to the UN or any UN entity that funds or supports iVerify or similar efforts. The bill extends the same prohibition to contributions to other international organizations for the purposes of funding or supporting iVerify or comparable disinformation-labeling initiatives. If funds are withheld under the bill, they must be permanently rescinded, returned to the U.S. Treasury, and not treated as arrears owed to the UN. In short, the bill seeks to prevent U.S. support for UN-led (or UN-related) mechanisms that assess or label information as disinformation, and it directs any withheld funds to be returned rather than repaid later.
Key Points
- 1Prohibition on U.S. funds: No federal funds may be used to develop, implement, or support the iVerify tool developed by UNICEF? UNDP, or to support similar disinformation-labeling platforms; the bill targets iVerify specifically and any comparable tools.
- 2Prohibition on labeling speech: No federal funds may be used for any effort that seeks to label speech or expression as mal-, mis-, or disinformation.
- 3Restrictions on voluntary contributions: No voluntary contributions to the United Nations or UN entities if they fund, implement, develop, or support iVerify or similar disinformation-labeling initiatives.
- 4Restrictions on other international organizations: No contributions to other international organizations for purposes of funding or supporting iVerify or similar disinformation-labeling efforts.
- 5Funds rescission mechanism: Any funds withheld under the bill must be permanently rescinded, deposited to the U.S. Treasury, and not considered arrears to be repaid to the UN or any UN entity.