In a chilling crackdown on Chinese influence, US state legislatures are passing laws with alarming similarities to the McCarthy-era Red Scare. Critics warn that these bills could stifle free speech, create administrative hurdles for ordinary citizens, and invite politically motivated penalties.
The surge in anti-China legislation is attributed to two shadowy organizations, State Shield and State Armor, which have been fueling the legislative frenzy with opaque funding streams. These nonprofits are newly arrived players, founded in 2023 and 2024 respectively, but they've already had a significant impact on state policy-making.
State-level foreign influence registries are being created to regulate entities working on behalf of "adversary" countries, including China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela. These laws require businesses, universities, and humanitarian organizations to register as foreign agents if they conduct activities that involve advocacy on behalf of a foreign principal.
Nebraska's bill, known as the Foreign Adversary and Terrorist Agent Registration Act, is particularly alarming. It creates a state registry for agents working on behalf of adversaries, with expansive requirements that cover even purely economic transactions. U.S.-based workers of firms owned or partially owned by Chinese companies will likely have to register.
The stakes are high, with a $50,000 penalty and deportation looming over noncitizens who fail to comply. Critics warn that these laws could have a chilling effect on free speech and civil liberties, as people become hesitant to engage in activities that might be perceived as pro-China or pro-foreign influence.
State Armor's founder, Michael Lucci, has ties to wealthy China critics and sits on the board of American Global Strategies, a consultancy firm. The organization has been using the rhetoric of "resilience" and "being ready for potential conflict," but critics argue that these laws are being used to target left-leaning groups and individuals who support foreign governments.
The bill's supporters point to New York as evidence that states need to combat China's strategy of influencing states, citing a former official who allegedly worked for China in exchange for millions of dollars. However, critics argue that this is a clear case of McCarthyism, where individuals are being targeted for their perceived affiliations rather than any actual wrongdoing.
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has published a draft model policy bill that mirrors the Nebraska law, which would require every nonprofit and business to attest that they are cognizant of and in compliance with the bill. Critics warn that this will create an administrative albatross for ordinary citizens, while also inviting politicized enforcement.
As the debate over these laws continues, one thing is clear: the chilling effect on free speech and civil liberties cannot be ignored. The Intercept urges readers to join us in defending democracy and press freedom, which are under attack from authoritarian forces both within and outside the US government.
The surge in anti-China legislation is attributed to two shadowy organizations, State Shield and State Armor, which have been fueling the legislative frenzy with opaque funding streams. These nonprofits are newly arrived players, founded in 2023 and 2024 respectively, but they've already had a significant impact on state policy-making.
State-level foreign influence registries are being created to regulate entities working on behalf of "adversary" countries, including China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela. These laws require businesses, universities, and humanitarian organizations to register as foreign agents if they conduct activities that involve advocacy on behalf of a foreign principal.
Nebraska's bill, known as the Foreign Adversary and Terrorist Agent Registration Act, is particularly alarming. It creates a state registry for agents working on behalf of adversaries, with expansive requirements that cover even purely economic transactions. U.S.-based workers of firms owned or partially owned by Chinese companies will likely have to register.
The stakes are high, with a $50,000 penalty and deportation looming over noncitizens who fail to comply. Critics warn that these laws could have a chilling effect on free speech and civil liberties, as people become hesitant to engage in activities that might be perceived as pro-China or pro-foreign influence.
State Armor's founder, Michael Lucci, has ties to wealthy China critics and sits on the board of American Global Strategies, a consultancy firm. The organization has been using the rhetoric of "resilience" and "being ready for potential conflict," but critics argue that these laws are being used to target left-leaning groups and individuals who support foreign governments.
The bill's supporters point to New York as evidence that states need to combat China's strategy of influencing states, citing a former official who allegedly worked for China in exchange for millions of dollars. However, critics argue that this is a clear case of McCarthyism, where individuals are being targeted for their perceived affiliations rather than any actual wrongdoing.
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has published a draft model policy bill that mirrors the Nebraska law, which would require every nonprofit and business to attest that they are cognizant of and in compliance with the bill. Critics warn that this will create an administrative albatross for ordinary citizens, while also inviting politicized enforcement.
As the debate over these laws continues, one thing is clear: the chilling effect on free speech and civil liberties cannot be ignored. The Intercept urges readers to join us in defending democracy and press freedom, which are under attack from authoritarian forces both within and outside the US government.
US state legislatures passing laws that sound like straight out of the McCarthy era is a huge red flag for me. these shadowy orgs like State Shield & State Armor are just trying to stifle free speech and create administrative hurdles for regular ppl. $50k penalty and deportation for not registering as a foreign agent? that's some serious chill vibes 
what's next, registering every time you use social media? this isn't about national security or combating china influence - it's about silencing dissenting voices & punishing ppl for being left-leaning 
these new laws are straight out of a bad sci-fi movie 
. who needs surveillance states and propaganda machines when we can just create more red tape and penalties? it's like they're trying to turn us into informants for each other 
. and what's with the $50k penalty? that's just extortion 
. i'm not saying china is innocent, but do we really need laws that target anyone who talks about foreign policy or does business with a chinese company? it's just too much 
.
, I'm literally freaking out over these new anti-China laws! Like, can't we just have a neutral discussion about trade without being forced to register as foreign agents? It's like they're trying to create an atmosphere of fear where people don't want to speak up about anything that might be seen as pro-China 
. And what's with the $50k penalty and deportation for noncitizens who fail to comply? That's straight-up McCarthyism 
. It's like they're trying to create a culture of fear and intimidation, rather than actually addressing any legitimate concerns about foreign influence 
.
I'm low-key terrified that our country is slowly morphing into a bad 1950s spy novel 
. These new laws? More like a slow-motion train wreck, where we're all just along for the ride 
. The fact that State Armor and its founder are basically China critics with deep pockets 
is just... wow. And don't even get me started on the $50k penalty for not registering as a foreign agent 
. And it's all happening under the guise of "combating foreign influence", but honestly, I don't see how these laws actually achieve anything other than stifling free speech and civil liberties. The fact that a nonprofit called State Armor has ties to wealthy China critics just makes me think this is about silencing people who disagree with the government's stance on China 
. We need to be careful not to let our fear of "foreign influence" become an excuse for authoritarianism 
and these nonprofits like State Shield and State Armor are basically just fueling the fire with all this propaganda 
they're not even transparent about who's funding them! 
it's like, what's next? registering our thoughts and opinions too? 
. These new laws seem way too aggressive and chill, you know? They're basically setting a precedent for targeting people who support foreign governments or have ties to them - it's like, hello, we live in a diverse country where people can have different opinions! 
. And what about the nonprofits and businesses being forced to register? That sounds like a total administrative headache 
. It's like, where's the transparency? We need more sunshine on this issue, not less 
.
. It's time for us to take a closer look at what's going on and make sure we're standing up for our values, like free speech and civil liberties 
. We can't let authoritarian forces silence us! 
It's chilling to think that just because someone has ties to China or Cuba, they might be considered a threat to national security. And what really gets me is the lack of transparency around these shadowy nonprofits 
We need to be careful not to let fear-mongering politicians dictate our actions, rather than having an informed public discourse 
they should at least register 2 show deyre aware of whats goin on btw ppl r actin all defensive when it comes 2 china 
these laws could literally ruin people's lives just because they have ties to foreign companies or organizations. and what's with the $50k penalty? that's crazy talk 
. I mean, what's next? Registering for just thinking critically about our foreign policy? 
.
. I'm scared for our democracy, fam 
.
. It's just not credible, you feel? 
. Can't we focus on actual threats instead of just anyone who's connected to China 
. What's next, registering our thoughts? 
, you know? Like, we're living in a time where people think they can just pass laws that punish anyone who disagrees with them, just because some shadowy group is behind it. And don't even get me started on the penalties – $50k and deportation? That's just outrageous! 
It's all just a bunch of fear-mongering nonsense, if you ask me. And those laws are basically aimed at stifling free speech and civil liberties – that's not okay at all! 
. Anyone can get caught up in a proxy war without even realizing it 
. These new laws being passed by state legislatures in the US have all the makings of a witch hunt 
. The fact that they're modeled after the McCarthy-era Red Scare is super concerning 
.
. And what's up with all these bills requiring businesses and universities to register as foreign agents? It just seems like a recipe for administrative nightmares 
This is not the America I thought we were building 
. We gotta stand up for our civil liberties and defend democracy