what is fara

FARA stands for the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, which is a United States law that imposes public disclosure obligations on individuals or entities that become an "agent of a foreign principal". The purpose of FARA is to promote transparency with respect to foreign influence over American public opinion, policy, and laws, and to make such information publicly available. The FARA Unit of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES) within the DOJs National Security Division (NSD) is responsible for administering and enforcing FARA. FARA requires certain agents of foreign principals who are engaged in political activities or other activities that could influence American public opinion, policy, and laws to register with the FARA Unit. FARA is a complicated and loosely worded statute, and whether registration is triggered is highly fact-dependent.