US lawmakers introduce bill to deter foreign interference in elections News
Photo credit: Stephanie Sundier
US lawmakers introduce bill to deter foreign interference in elections

House Democrats on Tuesday introduced a new bill designed to detect and limit foreign interference in US elections.

The SHIELD Act would amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to clarify the obligation for campaigns to report acts of foreign “election influence” and require campaigns to adhere to a new implementation and reporting system to disclose such acts.

The Act seeks to deter foreign interference by enhancing campaign reporting and closing loopholes that allow foreign investments in US elections. The Act would would require that campaigns report illicit offers of election assistance from foreign governments and agents, in addition to ensuring that political advertisements on social media meet the same stricter standards as ads on TV or radio.

The legislation was introduced after reports of Russian interference in the 2016 election through the spread of disinformation on social media.

The bill was introduced by Administration Committee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren.

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