Broadcasters must disclose content sponsored by China or Russia, rules US Federal Communications Commission
- The regulatory agency says radio and TV stations must make it clear when a specific country or political party sponsors programming
- US lawmakers have urged the agency to compel broadcasters to identify such content as propaganda
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said any radio or television station must make it clear at the beginning and end of programmes when a specific country or political party has sponsored the content it broadcasts.
The identification should be made on television or spoken audibly on radio. For programmes longer than an hour, the disclosure should be made at least every 60 minutes, said the commission.
The rule changes are an attempt to crack down on increased attempts by foreign governments, particularly China and Russia, to promote certain narratives.
“We find it is critical that the American public be aware when a foreign government has sponsored, paid for … programmes involving the discussion of a controversial issue,” the FCC said in its proposal. Viewers or listeners need to know when they are tuned into certain programmes that “a foreign government, or its representatives, are seeking to persuade the American public”.
