(CNSNews.com) -- National Public Radio, or NPR, which is funded by taxpayers, corporate sponsors, and audience donations, has been labeled a "US State-Affiliated Media" entity by the social media site Twitter, which is owned by Elon Musk. 

"Labels on state-affiliated accounts provide additional context about accounts that are controlled by certain official representatives of governments, state-affiliated media entities and individuals associated with those entities," explains Twitter in its platform use guidelines. 

"Labels contain information about the country the account is affiliated with and whether it is operated by a government representative or state-affiliated media entity," added Twitter.  "Additionally, these labels include a small icon of a flag to signal the account’s status as a government account and of a podium for state-affiliated media."

Examples of other "state-affiliated media" on Twitter include Sputnik (Russia state-affiliated media), RT, People's Daily (China state-affiliated media), and Periodico Granma (Medios afiliados al gobierno, Cuba). 

Commenting on Twitter's labeling of NPR as state-affiliated media, NPR President John Lansing said, “We were disturbed to see last night that Twitter has labeled NPR as ‘state-affiliated media,’ a description that, per Twitter’s own guidelines, does not apply to NPR. ... It is unacceptable for Twitter to label us this way. A vigorous, vibrant free press is essential to the health of our democracy.”

Not the Bee tweeted, "LOL! Twitter just labeled NPR as 'state-affiliated media' and NPR is BIG MAD because that's how propaganda outlets in other countries are labeled."

The Gateway Pundit said, "About time."

NewsBusters' Nicholas Fondocaro tweeted, "NPR is literally a state-affiliated media organization. NPR is funded by the federal government. PBS needs this label as well."

Conservative Dinesh D'Souza tweeted, "When pushing for taxpayer money @NPR labels itself a public sector and public service organization. But when Twitter accurately terms NPR “state-affiliated media” the company protests that it is being unfairly labeled. It’s the truth, but they would like to pretend otherwise!"