Developing an Integrated Global Engagement Center To Support Counterterrorism
Mar 17, 2016
Signed by: Barack Obama
Signed on: Mar 14, 2016
Published on: Mar 17, 2016
Mar 17, 2016
Signed by: Barack Obama
Signed on: Mar 14, 2016
Published on: Mar 17, 2016
Summary
Establishes the Global Engagement Center to coordinate government-wide communications to fight the influence of terrorist groups like ISIL and al Qa'ida abroad.
What problem does this solve?
Terrorist groups use messaging to gain influence and recruit people overseas. This order creates a central office to coordinate the U.S. government's communication efforts to fight back against that messaging.
What does this order do?
Establishes the Global Engagement Center
Creates a new center within the Department of State to lead and sync all U.S. government communications aimed at foreign audiences to fight terrorist messaging.
Defines the center's responsibilities
Tasks the center with developing counterterrorism stories, working with private and foreign partners, and finding talent to support its mission against groups like ISIL.
Creates an interagency steering committee
Forms a committee with senior members from the Departments of Defense, Justice, Homeland Security, and others to advise the center and ensure support from across the government.
Revokes a previous executive order
Cancels Executive Order 13584, which had established a prior, similar initiative for counterterrorism communications.
Creates a temporary support office
Establishes the Global Engagement Center Coordination Office (GECCO) to provide technical and operational support to the Center, specifically for working with private partners.
Who does this affect?
- U.S. Government Agencies
- Foreign Audiences
- International Terrorist Organizations
What is the real world impact?
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Streamlines government messaging
Combines different government communication efforts into one coordinated center to make U.S. counterterrorism messaging more effective and consistent when speaking to foreign audiences.
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Counters foreign propaganda
Aims to directly fight the online and public messages from groups like ISIL and al Qa'ida by creating and spreading positive alternative stories and information.
When does this start?
This order takes effect immediately as of March 14, 2016, and sets a termination date for one of its temporary offices.
Termination of GECCO
The temporary Global Engagement Center Coordination Office (GECCO) will end after the maximum time allowed by law, unless the Secretary of State ends it sooner.