Possible 'Charlie Kirk Act'?

Following the tragic death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, calls for a "Charlie Kirk Act" have been circulating online and have recently been shared by the current administration. While a formal bill has yet to be introduced, the concept centers on holding news organizations and social media platforms accountable for what is deemed "propaganda" or "defamatory labels."

The idea behind the "Charlie Kirk Act" is to reinstate and amend the Smith-Mundt Act of 1948, a Cold War-era law that was modified in 2012. While the original law restricted the domestic distribution of U.S. government-produced foreign media, the new proposal would aim to impose

severe financial penalties on private media companies and social media platforms for violations. The proposed fines could amount to a significant percentage of a company's value for each infraction, with supporters arguing this would be a necessary deterrent to prevent what they see as baseless accusations and misinformation. Opponents of the "Charlie Kirk Act" raise concerns about its implications for freedom of the press.