The 'SPIN Act' Stops Government From Sharing Foreign Information Domestically, Limits Public Access to 'Examination Only'

The Stopping Propaganda Indoctrination Nationally Act, or the SPIN Act, is tackling how the U.S. government handles information it creates and shares overseas. Specifically, this bill deals with content produced under the U.S. Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948—stuff like news, documentaries, or cultural programming the government uses to communicate with foreign audiences. The core change is a hard stop: the government can no longer actively distribute this foreign-released information to the general public inside the U.S., its territories, or possessions (SEC. 2. Limiting Domestic Distribution).

The Information Blackout

Think of this as a firewall for government-produced content. If the State Department makes a video about democracy for distribution in Eastern Europe, the SPIN Act prevents that same video from being actively pushed out to a general American audience via government channels. For the average person, this means less government-curated international information flowing into their news feeds and public libraries. While the stated goal might be to prevent government-backed 'propaganda' from reaching citizens, the practical effect is a reduction in the public’s access to information the government itself deemed important enough to share internationally.

The VIP Reading Room

Here’s where it gets complicated. The bill doesn't make the information invisible; it just makes it much harder to access. If the information has already been released internationally, the Department of State must make it available upon request, but only for certain people (SEC. 2. Making Information Available Upon Request). This access is strictly limited to representatives of U.S. press groups, students/scholars doing research, and Members of Congress. If you’re a journalist or an academic trying to track what the U.S. is telling the rest of the world, you can ask to see it.

Examination Only: No Copies, No Sharing

Even for those privileged groups, access is highly restricted. The bill mandates that the information is only available for examination during normal business hours. That means you have to go to the State Department (or wherever they house it) and look at it there. Crucially, the bill explicitly states that those examining the material cannot take copies or distribute the information widely (SEC. 2. Who Can Examine the Information). Imagine you’re a freelance investigative journalist who spots something newsworthy in a document; you can read it, but you can’t photograph it, scan it, or take it with you to write your story. This severely limits the utility of the access, forcing researchers and reporters to rely on notes and memory, effectively hamstringing their ability to share what they find with the wider public.