Dark Money Drives Anti-China Crackdown Across State Legislatures
A spate of state-level legislation backed by dark money purports to curb China’s influence but could spur a “second Red Scare.”
States are passing a flurry of anti-China bills that critics warn could chill free speech, create an administrative burden for ordinary citizens, and invite politically motivated civil penalties.
“There’s often a fair debate to be had over China’s influence,” said James Czerniawski, head of emerging technology policy at Consumer Choice Center. “But my bigger concern is that states are greenlighting a second Red Scare.”
Nebraska, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas have now passed sweeping state-level foreign influence registries.
Civil liberties advocates contend that the bills bear the hallmarks of modern-day McCarthyism — propelled by newly created dark-money organizations.