NewsGuard, a company that rates the credibility of news and information websites, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, alleges that the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) threatened the company's business and violated its First Amendment rights.
The legal complaint states that USAGM, which oversees government-funded international broadcasters like Voice of America, pressured NewsGuard to change its ratings of certain conservative-leaning media outlets. NewsGuard claims the agency's CEO, Michael Pack, threatened to terminate contracts and publicly attack the company if it did not comply.
NewsGuard's ratings are based on nine criteria of journalistic practice, such as whether a site repeatedly publishes false content or clearly labels advertising. The company says it applies these standards consistently across all rated outlets. The lawsuit seeks a court order to prevent USAGM from retaliating against NewsGuard for its ratings.
The U.S. Agency for Global Media has declined to comment on the pending litigation. The case highlights ongoing tensions between media watchdog organizations and government entities during a period of heightened political polarization.
