RESEARCH PROGRAM ON FOREIGN MALIGN INFLUENCE OPERATIONS.

SEC. 228. [10 U.S.C. 2358 note] RESEARCH PROGRAM ON FOREIGN MALIGN INFLUENCE OPERATIONS. (a) Program Authorized.—The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, may carry out a research program on foreign malign influence operations as part of the university research programs of the Department of Defense. (b) Program Objectives.—The objectives of a research program carried out under subsection (a) should include the following: (1) Enhance the understanding of foreign malign influence operations, including activities conducted on social media platforms. (2) Facilitate the analysis of publicly available or voluntarily provided indicators of foreign malign influence operations. (3) Promote collaborative research and information exchange with relevant entities within the Department of Defense and with other agencies or nongovernmental organizations relating to foreign malign influence operations, as appropriate. (c) Notice to Congress.—Not later than 30 days before initiating a research program under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees notice of the intent of the Secretary to initiate such a program, which shall include— (1) a detailed description of the program and any related research activities; (2) the estimated cost and duration of the program; and (3) any other matters the Secretary determines to be relevant.