A US media personality with a huge audience has to be super careful with his or her being a propagandist for terrorists or terrorist regimes if they are FTO (Foreign Terrorist Organization or SDTO (Specially Designated Terrorist Organization).
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If a media personality has filed under FARA in the past, however, he must be careful to not give aid and comfort to the enemies of the US. See. 18 USC Section 2339B Material Support To Terrorists.
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Material support explicitly includes: Services, Communications, Media production, Public relations, Recruitment, and Propaganda. The key support case is Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project (2010) where the Court ruled...
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that even speech-based support (training, advocacy, coordinated messaging) can be criminal if coordinated with or performed for the group. This includes: Being paid to create or spread propaganda = “service”; Intent to help the group is enough;
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No need to prove violent acts by the propagandist. Further, the penalty is up to 20 years in prison, or life if deaths result.
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US media personalities risk serious legal exposure when promoting designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) or Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs), as activities like propaganda can cross into prohibited material support under federal law.
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Past FARA registration heightens scrutiny but does not shield against criminal charges for aiding enemies. The Supreme Court in Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project upheld that even speech coordinated with FTOs qualifies as material support.
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Key Legal Framework
18 U.S.C. § 2339B criminalizes knowingly providing material support to FTOs, explicitly including services, communications, media production, public relations, recruitment, and propaganda.
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18 U.S.C. § 2339B criminalizes knowingly providing material support to FTOs, explicitly including services, communications, media production, public relations, recruitment, and propaganda.
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Penalties reach 20 years imprisonment, or life if death results, with intent to aid the group sufficient—no violent acts required by the supporter. Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project (2010) ruled that advocacy or training for FTOs, even nonviolent,
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frees resources for terrorism and legitimizes groups, overriding First Amendment protections when coordinated.
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FARA and Media Risks
FARA (22 U.S.C. § 611 et seq.) mandates registration for agents of foreign principals engaging in political activities, publicity, or lobbying, including media influencers paid by foreign governments. Recent enforcement targets influencers.
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FARA (22 U.S.C. § 611 et seq.) mandates registration for agents of foreign principals engaging in political activities, publicity, or lobbying, including media influencers paid by foreign governments. Recent enforcement targets influencers.
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The DOJ has indicted RT employees for covertly funding U.S. personalities like Tim Pool without disclosure. FARA compliance does not immunize against § 2339B if content aids FTOs like Hamas or Hezbollah.
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Notable Cases and Enforcement
No major prosecutions directly match huge-audience personalities under § 2339B for FTO propaganda, but trends show rising scrutiny.
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No major prosecutions directly match huge-audience personalities under § 2339B for FTO propaganda, but trends show rising scrutiny.
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Examples include Telegram propagandist Matthew Allison charged with conspiring to provide material support via hate videos soliciting attacks; campus groups linked to Hamas flagged for FARA violations. President Trump's 2025 memo directed probes into NGOs and
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citizens aiding terrorism via FARA breaches or funding. Media figures must avoid coordinated messaging with FTOs to evade charges.
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