I

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 3781

To require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration

to update its report on hate speech, especially as it relates to hate

speech on the Internet, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 10, 1996

Mr. ZIMMER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on Commerce

A BILL

To require the National Telecommunications and Information

Administration to update its report on hate speech, especially as it relates to hate speech on the Internet, and

for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

4 The Congress finds the following:

5 (1) The World Wide Web, a relatively new

6 Internet technology, is attracting a rapidly growing

7 audience. The global nature of the Internet permits

8 the Web to reach a worldwide audience. Web pub-
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1 lishing is fairly inexpensive and simple. Its broad

2 reach, low costs and relatively easy-to-master tech3 nology have made the World Wide Web an ideal

4 propaganda vehicle for hate and extremist groups.

5 (2) As computers become less expensive, sim6 pler to use, and consequently more common in

7 American homes, as the barriers to disseminating in8 formation through computers falls, bigots of all

9 kinds are rushing to use the power of modern tech10 nology to spread their propaganda.

11 (3) Traditional hate groups have established

12 propaganda sites on the World Wide Web.

13 (4) Holocaust deniers are also using the Web.

14 (5) A new type of hater, young and computer

15 literate, has become prominent on the Web. The

16 ease of access creates opportunities for young, pre17 viously unknown haters and hate groups, to promote

18 themselves and become active anti-Semitic and racist

19 propagandists. These individuals and groups have,

20 from time to time, used the facilities of both public

21 and private universities.

22 SEC. 2. REPORT UPDATE REQUIRED.

23 Section 155 of the National Telecommunications and

24 Information Administration Organization Act is amended

25 by adding at the end the following new subsection:
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1 ‘‘(c) FOLLOW-UP REPORT REQUIRED.—

2 ‘‘(1) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—Within 240 days

3 after the date of enactment of this subsection, the

4 NTIA, with the assistance of the Commission, the

5 Department of Justice, and the United States Com6 mission on Civil Rights, shall prepare a report—

7 ‘‘(A) analyzing the use of the Internet and

8 other interactive communications media for the

9 dissemination of propaganda advocating hatred

10 on the basis of race, color, religion, national ori11 gin, or sex;

12 ‘‘(B) evaluating the extent to which such

13 propaganda is accessible to minors, and the ex14 tent to which software or other measures are

15 available to protect minors from such propa16 ganda; and

17 ‘‘(C) including any recommendations that

18 such agencies deem appropriate.

19 ‘‘(2) SUBMISSION OF REPORT.—The report re20 quired by paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the

21 Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House

22 of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,

23 Science, and Transportation of the Senate.’’.

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