The Foreign Agent Registration Act, or FARA, requires foreign agents to register with the Justice Department and disclose their activities to the public. This law was created in 1938 to combat the spread of fascist propaganda and then became obscure until the recent Mueller investigation. Mandating transparency seems sensible when it might bring to light foreign governments trying to undermine the U.S. political system. However, the act’s sweeping definitions have led to absurd results.
In this Foreign Policy article, ICNL Senior Legal Advisor Nick Robinson reviews many of the poorly written aspects of FARA and where confusion, manipulation, and abuse may take place. You can find the full Foreign Policy article here.
