To protect and promote American values abroad, including the rights of freedom of speech and freedom of expression enshrined in the United States Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, through the use of foreign assistance and by assuring U.S. law enforcement does not cooperate in censorship abroad.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · September 25, 2024
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
This bill prohibits the U.S. government from providing foreign assistance to any foreign government, agency, or organization engaged in online censorship of protected speech, and prevents U.S. law enforcement from cooperating with foreign authorities in ways that would suppress lawful expression online. The legislation specifically addresses concerns about a Brazilian Supreme Court justice's orders to U.S. technology companies to remove content and block users, citing instances where the State Department funded organizations that allegedly provided recommendations used to justify censorship in Brazil. The Secretary of State and Attorney General would be required to identify foreign entities engaged in online censorship and withhold assistance accordingly, though they can lift restrictions if a foreign entity ceases censorship activities. The Attorney General must report annually to Congress on all determinations made under the law. The bill includes narrow exceptions for requests related to terrorism and child exploitation, but otherwise defines online censorship broadly to protect speech that would be constitutionally protected if the speaker were in the United States.
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