Sec. 218. Foreign malign influence operations research program

287 words·~1 min read·/bill/116/s/1790/eah/section-218

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The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, shall carry out a research program on foreign malign influence operations research as part of the university and other basic research programs of the Department of Defense (such as the Minerva Research Initiative). The objectives of the research program shall be the following: To enhance the understanding of foreign malign influence operations, including activities conducted on social media platforms.

To facilitate the compilation, analysis, and storage of publicly available or voluntarily provided indicators of foreign malign influence operations, including those appearing on social media platforms, for the purposes of additional research. To promote the development of best practices relating to tactics, techniques, procedures, and technology for the protection of the privacy of the customers and users of the social media platforms and the proprietary information of the social media companies in conducting research and analysis or compiling and storing indicators and key trends of foreign malign influence operations on social media platforms.

To promote collaborative research and information exchange with other relevant entities within the Department and with other agencies relating to foreign malign influence operations. In order to achieve the objectives specified in subsection (b), the Secretary is authorized to carry out the following activities: The Secretary may award research grants to eligible individuals and entities on a competitive basis. The Secretary may award financial assistance to graduate students on a competitive basis.

Not later than March 1, 2020, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the progress of the Secretary in carrying out the research program under this section, including a description of the activities and research conducted as part of the program.