This bill would cut off U.S. bilateral economic aid to foreign governments that restrict free speech or pressure social media platforms and news organizations to censor speech that would be protected under the U.S. Constitution. The legislation applies to all foreign assistance authorized by the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and any other bilateral economic aid beginning in the fiscal year after the bill is enacted. The Secretary of State would determine which countries violate these standards and must publicly announce these determinations in the Federal Register. The bill defines covered platforms broadly to include social media services, news websites, broadcast media, and print publications. Any foreign government officials or contractors who direct or coerce these platforms to censor protected speech could trigger a cutoff of U.S. aid to that country.
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