Rep. Anna Paulina Luna introduces bill to regulate foreign influencer payments

U.S. Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) has introduced the Foreign Propaganda Registration Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation designed to require social media influencers to disclose payments received from foreign governments.

The bill seeks to amend the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) of 1938 to explicitly include social media influencers—defined as individuals with monetized accounts—within the legal definition of a ‘publicity agent.’ The measure has garnered bipartisan support, including from Representatives Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL).

Luna stated that the current influencer landscape is like the ‘wild west,’ noting that foreign adversaries use disinformation and psychological operations to undermine national security and U.S. foreign policy. She emphasized that there is a significant distinction between an organic opinion and secretly acting on behalf of foreign interests to push propaganda to the American public.