A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has introduced the Foreign Propaganda Disclosure Act, legislation that would require social-media influencers operating on behalf of foreign interests to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) — the country's existing foreign-agent disclosure framework. The bill was introduced on 25 August and marks a significant push to extend decades-old lobbying transparency rules to the digital creator economy.

What the Bill Proposes

The legislation would amend FARA to expressly include social-media influencers within the legal definition of a 'publicity agent.' It defines a social-media influencer as any person with a monetised account on a social-media platform. Critically, the bill does not treat every monetised influencer as a foreign agent — registration and disclosure requirements would apply only when an influencer acts on behalf of a foreign government or other foreign principal under circumstances already covered by FARA.

Rather than creating a separate regulatory system for online personalities, the bill incorporates an existing federal definition of a social-media platform and slots influencers into the current FARA framework. Supporters say the change would close a transparency gap that foreign governments could exploit to shape American public opinion without revealing their involvement.

Who Introduced It

The bill was introduced by Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, alongside Democratic Representative Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Democratic Representative Jared Moskowitz of Florida, and Republican Representative Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin. The bipartisan composition signals that concern over foreign-backed influence operations has cross-party traction on Capitol Hill.

What the Lawmakers Said

'There is a big difference between having an organic opinion and secretly acting on behalf of foreign interests to push propaganda to Americans,' Luna said. She added: 'Foreign adversaries have been actively using disinformation and psychological operations to divide America, erode our national security, and undermine US foreign policy. Americans deserve to know when the voices shaping what they see online are working on behalf of foreign interests.'

Gonzalez framed the bill as a necessary update to laws that have not kept pace with how Americans now consume political information. 'Federal law must adapt to an ever-changing digital media landscape, especially as more Americans turn to social media for news consumption and public discourse,' he said. 'Our bill increases public transparency around paid partnerships between social media influencers and foreign governments to prevent deceptive practices that may hinder audiences from building a fully informed opinion,' he added.

Background: What FARA Is

FARA was enacted in 1938 amid concerns about foreign propaganda circulating inside the United States. It generally requires individuals and organisations acting at the direction or control of foreign principals — in political or public-relations capacities — to register with the Justice Department and disclose their relationships, activities, and finances. Unlike traditional broadcasters and publishers, online influencers can reach millions of followers through personal accounts without routinely disclosing financial relationships or the source of sponsored content, a gap the bill aims to address.

What Remains Unclear

The lawmakers did not identify particular influencers or foreign governments that would be affected by the legislation. No estimate was provided of how many online accounts could fall within the bill's scope. The proposal will now move through the legislative process, where its ultimate passage remains uncertain.