The origins of technologies like the Tor network and encrypted chat illustrate a pattern where military projects evolve into dual-use tools. However, recent government initiatives reveal a troubling trend: significant funding aimed at silencing misinformation related to media and democratic institutions. A $40 million initiative established by the National Science Foundation in 2021 exemplifies this censorship-focused approach, aimed at preserving trust in the media. This parallels actions one might expect from authoritarian regimes, heightening concerns over the manipulation of information to favor establishment narratives and suppress dissenting voices. The current strategy involves amplifying propaganda while diminishing opposition, raising fundamental questions about freedom of expression and the integrity of information dissemination in democratic societies.