To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide for the inclusion of additional information relating to internet freedom in Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · May 8, 2024
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The Global Internet Freedom Act amends existing foreign assistance laws to require the U.S. State Department to include detailed information about internet freedom in its annual human rights reports on countries around the world. Specifically, the legislation mandates that these reports document instances where governments or other actors deliberately block internet access, shut down connectivity, censor online content, or punish people for protected speech and activities online. The bill expresses Congress's view that internet freedom is essential to human rights and that the U.S. should actively promote these principles globally. The legislation does not authorize new funding but rather requires the State Department to expand the scope of information already being collected and reported in existing country human rights assessments. This change would give Congress and the public more comprehensive data about internet restrictions and online censorship practices worldwide.
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