To develop and deploy firewall circumvention tools for the people of Hong Kong after the People’s Republic of China violated its agreement under the Joint Declaration, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · October 24, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
This bill directs the U.S. government to develop and distribute internet circumvention tools to help people in Hong Kong bypass internet censorship imposed by China's National Security Law. The legislation establishes a Hong Kong Internet Freedom Program within the State Department and authorizes the Open Technology Fund to create similar initiatives, which will operate independently from mainland China programs through September 2028. The bill authorizes grants to private organizations to develop and distribute technologies such as virtual private networks, firewall circumvention tools, and other tools that protect digital security and enable access to blocked information. Congress is allocating $15 million annually for fiscal years 2024 through 2028—$10 million for the State Department's efforts and $5 million for the Open Technology Fund—with these funds remaining available until spent. The State Department must submit a classified strategic planning report within 120 days outlining how the government will expand firewall circumvention technology availability in Hong Kong and coordinate across federal agencies on these efforts.
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