March 2025 Newsletter

March 2025 Report

Inside This Edition:

Microsoft Disavows NewsGuard Affiliation
Florida CFO Asks DOGE to Audit Censorship Grants to Universities
Federal and State Legislative Efforts to Stop Media Censorship
NewsGuard & Censorship Media Roundup

OVERVIEW

The Independent Media Council (IMC) is full steam ahead in its mission to stop media censorship. This month alone, we’ve made significant progress in the states, with legislative efforts underway in Alabama, Florida and West Virginia to prevent state agencies from utilizing or working with organizations that utilize media monitors such as NewsGuard. We’ve also made progress in the federal arena to strengthen a section of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which prohibits advertising agencies that contract with DoD from funding media censorship.

Elected officials at both the state and federal levels are also putting NewsGuard under the microscope, calling for greater transparency and scrutiny of their partnerships.

Read on for more details. As always, thanks for your efforts to fight media censorship and defend the First Amendment. By working together, we’re making a significant impact, as you will read below.

GOVERNMENT

FEDERAL

Microsoft Disavows NewsGuard Affiliation

NewsGuard, which long touted its relationship with Microsoft, has now removed any mention of Microsoft on its website. The action was taken after Sen. Ted Cruz fired off a strongly-worded letter to CEO Satya Nadella demanding to know answers about Microsoft’s promotion and apparent funding of the online “media literacy” tool.

NewsGuard claims to have created it to guide “learners of all ages through the overwhelming landscape of online news and information.”

In response to Cruz’s letter, Microsoft said its support of NewsGuard was limited to a one-time donation in 2018.

Microsoft also said it asked NewsGuard to remove the claim on its website.

Read Newsmax’s story on it here.

Legislative Efforts to Stop Media Censorship

The original legislative intent of Section 1555 of the 2024 NDAA was to prevent advertising agencies that contract with DoD from funding censorship. Newsmax worked with US House Speaker Johnson and the Republican members of the House Committee on Armed Services to extend the provision for FY 2025. The Speaker highlighted the extensions in his NDAA statement, specifically calling out NewsGuard.

Legislation was introduced and immediately referred to the House Committee on Energy & Commerce to strengthen Section 1555 by including language that requires enforcement of the provision. The Senate version is anticipated to be introduced soon.

STATE

Florida CFO Asks DOGE to Audit Censorship Grants to Universities

Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis has asked Elon Musk and DOGE to audit censorship grants to universities, specifically through the Defense Department and government entities that partner with USAID.

In an open letter, Patronis cited grants to NewsGuard from the University of Central Florida and the University of Florida, which he said could be an indication of larger concerns.

See Patronis’ letter here.

Legislative Efforts to Stop Media Censorship

The IMC is supporting legislation to prevent state governments from utilizing media monitoring services such as NewsGuard.

Legislation was introduced in Alabama (HB 282) in February that would: prohibit state and local agencies from utilizing media monitoring organizations; prohibit state and local agencies from entering into an agreement with a company that uses media monitoring services; and prohibit state and local agencies from providing support to a media monitoring organization.

Similar legislation will be introduced in various states.

MEDIA

MRC by Tim Olohan, 2/26/25

Sen. Schmitt slams Dem senator for censorship denial at pivotal FTC hearing

The Daily Wire by Brent Scher, 2/25/25

Ted Cruz subpoenas Big Tech company he says targeted conservatives

WSJ by Katherine Hamilton, 2/20/25

FTC Opens Inquiry into Censorship at Tech Companies

MRC by Catherine Salgado, 2/19/25

Lawmakers Flip Their Lids as Trump Phases Out CISA’s Censorship Efforts

Jonathan Turley, 2/18/25

How the Left is Framing Free Speech as a Front for Fascism