Foreign agent laws are laws that require individuals or organizations that receive funding or act on behalf of foreign entities to register and disclose their activities and sources of income.
These laws are claimed as a tool to fight back against foreign interference, but they can also be used to silence critics and repress law-abiding NGOs, independent media and individuals.
The first foreign agent law, FARA, was enacted in the US in 1938 to counter Nazi propaganda. This law is still in force today but has undergone significant changes
Ever since Russia enacted its foreign agents law in 2012, many other countries have followed suit, such as China, India, Hungary, Israel, Egypt and Venezuela
These laws often have vague and broad definitions of what constitutes a foreign agent, giving the authorities wide discretion to target anyone they deem undesirable or disloyal
These laws also impose burdensome reporting and auditing requirements, hefty fines and criminal sanctions for non-compliance, creating a chilling effect on civil society and discouraging foreign funding and cooperation
These laws also stigmatize and delegitimize those who are labeled as foreign agents, exposing them to harassment, intimidation, violence and public distrust
These laws undermine the fundamental rights and freedoms of expression, association and assembly, which are essential for a vibrant and pluralistic democracy