Internews Exposed: A US-Funded Government Censorship Machine That Crushed Online Dissent

If you ever needed proof that irony is alive and well in the world of global media, look no further than Internews, the non-profit that claims to champion independent journalism while running on a steady IV drip of US government cash. For decades, Internews has positioned itself as a noble defender of press freedom, operating in over 30 countries under the noble banner of truth and transparency. But dig a little deeper, and what you find looks suspiciously like a government-sponsored censorship machine dressed up as a grassroots journalism initiative.

More: USAID’s Secret War: Censorship, Digital IDs, and the Battle for Total Control

Follow the Money

According to data from USASpending, Internews has been on the receiving end of an absolute deluge of US government funding for the past 17 years. Nearly half a billion dollars — yes, a billion with a B—has flowed into its coffers, courtesy of USAID and the US State Department. This is the same USAID that has been caught meddling in foreign elections and running covert influence operations from Havana to Kyiv.

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