Latest news with #foreigninfluence
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maine can't enforce foreign election interference law that appeals court calls unconstitutional
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine can't enforce a voter-approved foreign election interference law that a federal appeals court said likely violates the Constitution by limiting political donations. Voters overwhelmingly approved a ban on foreign governments and companies with 5% or more foreign government ownership from donating to state referendum races. The law is one of a handful around the country that attempt to limit foreign influence on U.S. elections. The law has been on hold pending federal lawsuits from utilities companies and media organizations that raise constitutional challenges about it. The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston said in court papers in July that it affirmed a lower-court ruling that the law likely violates the First Amendment. 'The prohibition is overly broad, silencing U.S. corporations based on the mere possibility that foreign shareholders might try to influence its decisions on political speech, even where those foreign shareholders may be passive owners that exercise no influence or control over the corporation's political spending," wrote Judge Lara Montecalvo. The matter was sent back to the lower court, where it will proceed, and there has been no substantive movement on it in recent weeks, said Danna Hayes, a spokesperson for the Maine attorney general's office, on Monday. The law is on the state's books, but the state cannot enforce it while legal challenges are still pending, Hayes said. Voters approved the law in 2023 by a margin of 86% to 14%. It followed a multimillion-dollar effort by a Canadian-owned utility to influence a project in Maine in which it's a partner. The law reflects the will of Maine residents to ensure clean elections, said Rick Bennett, chair of Protect Maine Elections, the committee formed to support the 2023 ballot initiative. He said the fight to save the law was still ongoing. 'Mainers spoke with one voice: our elections should belong to us, not to corporations owned or influenced by foreign governments whose interests may not align with our own,' Bennett said in a statement. Solve the daily Crossword
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Maine can't enforce foreign election interference law that appeals court calls unconstitutional
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine can't enforce a voter-approved foreign election interference law that a federal appeals court said likely violates the Constitution by limiting political donations. Voters overwhelmingly approved a ban on foreign governments and companies with 5% or more foreign government ownership from donating to state referendum races. The law is one of a handful around the country that attempt to limit foreign influence on U.S. elections. The law has been on hold pending federal lawsuits from utilities companies and media organizations that raise constitutional challenges about it. The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston said in court papers in July that it affirmed a lower-court ruling that the law likely violates the First Amendment. 'The prohibition is overly broad, silencing U.S. corporations based on the mere possibility that foreign shareholders might try to influence its decisions on political speech, even where those foreign shareholders may be passive owners that exercise no influence or control over the corporation's political spending,' wrote Judge Lara Montecalvo. The matter was sent back to the lower court, where it will proceed, and there has been no substantive movement on it in recent weeks, said Danna Hayes, a spokesperson for the Maine attorney general's office, on Monday. The law is on the state's books, but the state cannot enforce it while legal challenges are still pending, Hayes said. Voters approved the law in 2023 by a margin of 86% to 14%. It followed a multimillion-dollar effort by a Canadian-owned utility to influence a project in Maine in which it's a partner. The law reflects the will of Maine residents to ensure clean elections, said Rick Bennett, chair of Protect Maine Elections, the committee formed to support the 2023 ballot initiative. He said the fight to save the law was still ongoing. 'Mainers spoke with one voice: our elections should belong to us, not to corporations owned or influenced by foreign governments whose interests may not align with our own,' Bennett said in a statement.
The Guardian
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
UK should consider political donations cryptocurrency ban, says minister
Election officials should consider banning political donations made in cryptocurrency, a minister has said, amid concerns that foreign powers are using untraceable money to influence British politics. Pat McFadden, the cabinet office minister and close ally of the prime minister Keir Starmer, told MPs on Monday he thought there was a case for preventing crypto donations given how hard it is to trace their source. His comments come two months after Nigel Farage announced his Reform UK party would become the first in British politics to accept donations in bitcoin, mirroring a similar move made by Donald Trump in the 2024 US presidential election. The campaign group Spotlight on Corruption has warned this practice could allow foreign countries to undermine British democracy, saying digital currencies 'may play a role in future political interference schemes'. McFadden was asked by his Labour colleague Liam Byrne about banning cryptocurrency for political donations during a meeting of a joint Commons and Lords committee on the national security strategy. 'I think it's a very good question and I definitely think it is something that the Electoral Commission should be considering,' McFadden said. 'The funding of democracy is often a controversial area but I think that it's very important that we know who is providing the donation, are they properly registered, what are the bona fides of that donation. I think it's a very important question you've asked.' He added: 'I always think that the legislation should keep up with the technology and practices of the time. So if you're asking me should the legislation consider whether the current systems are fit for purpose, I think that's a very real challenge.' Byrne, who chairs the Commons' business and trade committee, also urged the minister to consider tightening the rules governing donations made by people linked to 'unlimited companies', the finances of which are difficult to check. McFadden replied: 'We should always keep our legislation up to date to ensure that the financing of politics can be trusted by the public. And if, from time to time, the legislation needs to be changed to make sure that's the case, then of course that's something that should be considered.' McFadden added that he believed ministers should consider putting more resources into the Electoral Commission and the National Crime Agency to help police political donations. Byrne said afterwards: 'Our party finance rules are, in truth, a Kremlin's charter, designed for opacity, not openness. 'If we want to clean up politics, we must root out the dark money, hidden money and foreign money. That means banning cryptocurrency donations, donations from unincorporated associations and donations financed by foreign profits. Crucially it means beefing up the National Crime Agency and Electoral Commission.' McFadden's comments come days before ministers release proposals about how to improve elections, which will lead to future legislation. That strategy paper is not expected to recommend banning cryptocurrency donations, despite his apparent support for the idea. The paper is expected to back allowing people to vote once they are 16 and to set out measures to protect candidates standing at election from suffering abuse and harassment. On election finance, transparency campaigners said they believed the most likely area for action on election finance would be closing loopholes on foreign donations to ensure only companies making profits in the UK could give money. They are concerned, however, that ministers will back away from capping individual or company donations, or giving the Electoral Commission back its powers to launch criminal investigations. They also thought the government would stop short of ordering automatic voter registration, but that there could be greater 'nudge' action reminding people to register. Margaret Hodge, the Labour peer and anti-corruption campaigner, said there was 'a lot of pressure on the government to get things right' and the House of Lords was likely to push for even stronger rules on transparency and checks on political donations. Tom Brake, the director of Unlock Democracy campaign group and a former deputy leader of the Commons, said: 'Safeguarding democracy is one of any government's most important duties. Crypto donations, and the heightened risk of crypto being used to channel foreign money into UK politics, are a clear and present danger to democratic integrity.' On the wider changes expected in the bill, he added: 'Votes at 16 will only be a success if 16- and 17-yearolds are actually registered to vote. More than 6 million eligible voters in England and Wales are not currently registered to vote, with young people among the worst affected. A system of automatic voter registration would ensure no young person cannot make their voice heard. 'Restoring the Electoral Commission's independence is as close to a painless change as Labour could hope for. They rightly opposed the last government's policy to interfere [by introducing a strategy and policy statement [for the Electoral Commission]. We hope they will do the right thing and reverse that change.'
The Sun
07-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Britain should place China & US in toughest tier of its new foreign influence scheme, report finds
BRITAIN should place both China and the US in the toughest tier of its new foreign influence scheme, according to a new report. The UK must also engage with Beijing economically 'even if this prompts retaliation' from the White House, the Chatham House think tank said. Sir Keir Starmer's Government has been accused of cosying up to China despite concerns about its hostility to Britain. Beijing has been spared from the most stringent requirements of the UK's new Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (Firs), which would see anyone working for the state to declare influence activities in Britain. Under existing rules, China is in the lower tier of the scheme which requires the declaration of 'political' activity alone. Iran and Russia have been placed in the higher 'enhanced' tier covering a wider range of activities. Yet the decision to not put the strongest restraints on Chinese influence will be slammed by hawks including senior Tories. Former security minister Tom Tugendhat said last year: 'The advice from MI5 was very very clear. If China isn't in the enhanced tier it's not worth having.' The foreign influence register was first proposed by the Tories. But it was only adopted by Labour following the scandal over a suspected Chinese spy's links to Prince Andrew. At the time Mr Jarvis insisted: 'the Government would not hesitate to use 'every tool at our disposal' to keep Britain safe - and blamed the Tories for leaving the register plans in disarray. He said: 'Where there are individuals who pose a threat to our national security, we are committed to using the full range of powers available to disrupt them.'
Telegraph
01-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Chinese ‘spies' left off government threat list
China and any agents acting on its behalf have been left off the top tier of the UK government's new register tracking covert foreign influence. Beijing was not deemed a high security threat to Britain under the government's new foreign influence registration scheme (FIRS), which came into effect today. The register is intended to give the UK a better understanding of the activities of foreign states deemed a security threat. The register requires anyone carrying out activities with 'political influence' on behalf of a foreign power to enlist with the Government. Only Russia and Iran were designated as a top-tier threat – known as the 'enhanced tier' posing a high security threat – with both countries accused of conducting covert operations in the UK to sway public opinion. Anyone working for a country in this top tier must declare any activity, even if the work isn't political. China and spies acting on the state's behalf will not have to do so. The decision to leave China off the list comes barely a week after the UK invested £600 million to enhance intelligence efforts to mitigate Beijing's 'threat', according to the Foreign Secretary David Lammy. This followed the release of the audit into the UK's vulnerability to Beijing, which found that 'instances of China's espionage, interference in our democracy and the undermining of our economic security have increased in recent years'. In the past year, reports of Chinese interference and espionage in the UK have been constant. On Tuesday, The Telegraph revealed that Chu Ting Tang, a wealthy businessman who has met with prime ministers at Downing Street, has links to a Chinese government department accused of being used as a front for spying. Mr Tang, a lobbyist who runs the annual Chinese New Year celebrations in Trafalgar Square, was made an OBE in 2011. It was revealed that he holds a senior position in an organisation run by the United Front Work Department (UFWD), a vast global Chinese foreign influence body accused of espionage. Whitehall surveillance There have also been allegations that Beijing is planting surveillance devices around Whitehall to spy on politicians as well as concerns around China's new 'mega embassy' in London, which opponents have said will be used as a new espionage base inside the UK. A 2023 report by Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee also found that China had taken part in 'aggressive' interference by seeking to 'penetrate or buy academia to ensure that its international narrative is advanced and criticism of China suppressed.' The FIRS' rules were first introduced in 2023 as part of the National Security Act. Dan Jarvis, the Security Minister, said the register 'gives us the tools to confront growing threats to our national security, one of the foundations of our plan for change, without compromising the openness that defines our democracy.' The Conservatives had called for China to be added to the enhanced tier of the register, with shadow home secretary Chris Philp saying it was 'astonishing' that the country was left off. However, it could be part of the government's efforts to rebuild relations with China as it seeks to boost economic ties. Following the release of the audit, China's embassy in the UK said it opposed the 'erroneous remarks' and 'groundless accusations'.
