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Rep. Michael McCaulMichael Thomas McCaulHillicon Valley: Apple rolls out coronavirus screening app, website | Pompeo urged to crack down on coronavirus misinformation from China | Senators push FTC on price gouging | Instacart workers threaten strike House Republican urges Pompeo to take steps to limit misinformation from China on coronavirus Hillicon Valley: Facebook reports huge spike in usage during pandemic | Democrats push for mail-in voting funds in coronavirus stimulus | Trump delays deadline to acquire REAL ID MORE (R-Texas) is urging Secretary of StateMike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoCoronavirus response reveals deep fractures in global partnerships Hillicon Valley: Apple rolls out coronavirus screening app, website | Pompeo urged to crack down on coronavirus misinformation from China | Senators push FTC on price gouging | Instacart workers threaten strike COVID-19 intensifies the case for blacklisting Khalifa Haftar MORE to take steps to limit the spread of online Chinese misinformation around the coronavirus pandemic.

McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, sent a letter to Pompeo on Thursday requesting that Pompeo intensify efforts to counter disinformation around the coronavirus spread by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The CCP is carrying out a disinformation campaign in an attempt to transfer blame to the United States that is exacerbating this dire situation, McCaul wrote. The State Department has demonstrated considerable flexibility and ingenuity in responding to the CCPs information warfare, and I urge you and your team to continue these efforts and to coordinate with willing allies.

The congressman asked that the State Department pursue an investigation into the CCPs coronavirus coverup, including disinformation spread aboutwhere the virus originated, and that Pompeo brief Congress about the CCPs disinformation efforts.

The CCPs information warfare against the United States on coronavirus and other matters underscores the Departments counter disinformation and public diplomacy efforts are more important than ever, McCaul wrote.

The letter to Pompeo was sent on the heels of a separate one McCaul sent to the CEOs of Google, Amazon, Twitter and Facebook earlier this week, in which he called on the social media platforms to ban all CCP media outlets and their officials from posting due to the disinformation they spread,as well as Beijing recently expellingAmerican journalists in China.

A spokesperson for McCaul told The Hill that the companies were working with him to address his concerns, with the spokesperson adding they hoped the companies would do the right thing and take this propaganda down.

Pompeo has called out China and other countries in recent weeks for spreading disinformation around the coronavirus pandemic.

"There are coordinated efforts to disparage what America is doing and our activity to do all the things President TrumpDonald John TrumpWith VP pick, Biden can't play small ball in a long ball world Coronavirus hits defense contractor jobs Wake up America, your country doesn't value your life MORE has set into motion," Pompeo said during a press briefing on the pandemic last week.

It is pretty diffused, unfortunately, Pompeo added. But we have certainly seen it come from places like China, and Russia and Iran.

McCaul is not the first lawmaker to criticize China for its actions around the coronavirus crisis.

Sen. Ben SasseBenjamin (Ben) Eric SasseHouse Republican urges Pompeo to take steps to limit misinformation from China on coronavirus How much damage? The true cost of the Senate's coronavirus relief bill Senate rejects GOP attempt to change unemployment benefits in coronavirus stimulus bill MORE (R-Neb.) and Rep. Mike GallagherMichael (Mike) John GallagherHouse Republican urges Pompeo to take steps to limit misinformation from China on coronavirus Twitter comes under fire over Chinese disinformation on coronavirus Hillicon Valley: Senators press Amazon over workplace safety amid outbreak | Lyft expands to deliveries | Dems seek election security funds in stimulus package MORE (R-Wis.) sent a joint letter to Twitter last week asking the platform to block CCP content. Twitter latertold The Hillthat official government accounts engaging in conversation about the origins of the virus would not be taken down.

Originally posted here:
House Republican urges Pompeo to take steps to limit misinformation from China on coronavirus | TheHill - The Hill