Developing an Integrated Global Engagement Center To Support Government-wide Counterterrorism Communications Activities Directed Abroad and Revoking Executive Order 13584

2016-03-17Executive Order 13721
Signed by: Barack Obama
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Headline: Creates Global Engagement Center to Counter Terrorist Messaging Abroad

What it does: Agencies must provide personnel, information, and other support to the State Department's new Global Engagement Center to coordinate U.S. counterterrorism communications abroad.

Real World Impact:
  • Creates a government office that shapes messages aimed at foreign audiences.
  • Requires agencies to share staff, research, facilities, and information with the Center.
  • Establishes a temporary office to build private-sector and NGO partnerships and metrics.
Topics: counterterrorism messaging, foreign public diplomacy, government coordination, public-private partnerships

Summary

This order creates a Global Engagement Center at the State Department to lead and coordinate U.S. government communications aimed at foreign audiences to counter the messaging of international terrorist groups. It revokes a prior temporary initiative and sets duties like developing research-based counter-narratives, building partnerships with private groups and NGOs, and creating measurement tools.

Federal agencies are directed, as allowed by law and budgets, to provide staff, information, and other support to help the Center carry out its mission.

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