Conservative Influencers Misrepresent Current Changes in Defense Department Policy

This article is available in Spanish in El Tiempo Latino.

Quick take

In September, the Department of Defense published a standard review of existing procedures for the intelligence community. Some social media accounts distorted the language and timing of the update, falsely claiming that the military had recently been authorized to “use lethal force against Americans!!”

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Full story

The Ministry of Defense has published updated information. policy about intelligence gathering on September 27.

The update did not add any new rules or expand military power. It simply described some existing use of force policies from other related protocols.

But some conservative influencers have distorted the revised policy. claiming that it “NOW includes the lawful use of lethal force by military force against civilians” or that “the US military has just been authorized to kill Americans on US soil.”

Others went in an overtly political direction. claiming: “The Department of Defense is quietly expanding military powers just weeks before the 2024 elections,” And “Biden and Harris are allowing the military to use lethal force against Americans!!”

Analysis Data from the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public shows that by October 16, there were thousands of posts and interactions across mainstream and more niche social media platforms. That day, more than 250 new posts appeared in 12 hours on “alternative technology” platforms such as Truth Social and Rumble.

But the claims in these messages are not true.

The policy in question is Department of Defense Directive 5240.01which establishes procedures to be followed by Department of Defense intelligence officers. There are 18 different intelligence units in the United States nine of them are part of the Department of Defense, including the National Security Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the intelligence agencies of various branches of the military.

“The previous revision of DoDD 5240.01 was issued on March 22, 2019,” Sue Gough, a Department of Defense spokeswoman, told us by email. “The reissue of 5240.01 was part of the Department’s normal efforts to periodically update guidance and policies.”

The procedure for reissuing such policies includes five stages of development and review and takes at least six months, according to department instructions.

“This release was in no way timed to coincide with the election or any other event,” Gough said.

Moreover, the part of the revised policy that is the focus of most social media posts is nothing new.

Reports on this issue typically quote a paragraph describing one of the situations in which the Secretary of Defense might approve a request for assistance from state or local law enforcement agencies.

This paragraph states that the Secretary may approve requests (emphasis added): “Assisting in response to potentially lethal objectsor any situation in which it is reasonably foreseeable that the provision of assistance requested may entail the use of force, can be fatalincluding death or serious bodily injury. This also includes all support to civilian law enforcement officials in situations where confrontation between civilian law enforcement officials and civilian individuals or groups could reasonably be expected. Such use of force must be in accordance with DoDD 5210.56, with possible additional restrictions depending on the specifics of the support requested.”

The phrases “lethality potential” and “lethal force” are often emphasized in social media posts.

While this language is new to DoDD 5240.01, “it does not represent any change to the DoD policy regarding the use of lethal force, which is addressed in DoDD 5210.56, Arms and Use of Force,” Gough said. “Revised 5240.01 simply describes how this long-standing policy applies to the Defense Intelligence Community.”

The purpose of this directive, among other things, is to establish “policies and standards” for the “use of force by Department of Defense personnel.” It sets guidelines for when and how to use “non-lethal force” and when the use of “deadly force” is justified.

The full Department of Defense use of force policy can be seen. Here. All published department policies can be seen Here.

Although the use of military personnel was rare in the United States, some cases. For example, in 1992, seven US Marines responded to a domestic violence call along with two police officers in Los Angeles during riots there. Brennan Justice Center report In a matter published on October 2, presidential powers recommended the deployment of troops within the country.

However, recently revised DoD policy did not add such authority.

“Word of this directive appears to be having significant resonance in many communities as the November 5th election approaches,” University of Washington analysis concluded. “These evolving rumors could potentially escalate into calls to action or offline mobilization: a hint that the US military is preparing to quell election-related civil unrest could prompt certain audiences to prepare for violence or confrontation with law enforcement in the aftermath of the election.” .

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Editor’s Note: FactCheck.org this is one of several organizations working with Facebook debunk misinformation spread on social media. Our previous stories can be found Here. Facebook has no control over our editorial content.

Sources

Ministry of Defense. Directive 5240.01. September 27, 2024

University of Washington. Center for an Informed Public. “Rumors are quickly spreading about the reissue of DoD Directive 5240.01.” October 18, 2024

Congressional Research Service. “Defense Primer: National and Military Intelligence” April 22, 2024

Ministry of Defense. Instruction 5025.01. June 7, 2023

Gough, Sue. Spokesperson for the US Department of Defense. Send an email to FactCheck.org. October 23, 2024

US Department of Defense. Directive 5210.56. November 18, 2016

Superville, Darlene, Tim Sullivan, and Aaron Morrison. “Trump has threatened military force against protesters across the country” Associated Press. June 2, 2020

Schmitt, Eric et al.”Esper breaks with Trump over use of troops against protesters” New York Times. Updated November 9, 2020

Nunn, Joseph. “Limiting the role of the military in law enforcement” Brennan Center for Justice. October 2, 2024