communication channels by limiting censorship 
of protected political and religious speech and 
information. 
SEC. 103. ANNUAL COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS 
PRACTICES. 
(a) REPORT
RELATING
TO
ECONOMIC
ASSIST-
ANCE.—Section 116 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsection: 
‘‘(g)(1) The report required by subsection (d) shall 
include an assessment of freedom of expression with re-
spect to electronic information in each foreign country. 
Such assessment shall consist of the following: 
‘‘(A) An assessment of the general extent to 
which Internet access is available to and used by 
citizens in that country. 
‘‘(B) An assessment of the extent to which gov-
ernment authorities in that country attempt to filter, 
censor, or otherwise block or remove nonviolent ex-
pression of political or religious opinion or belief via 
the Internet, including electronic mail, as well as a 
description of the means by which such authorities 
attempt to block or remove protected speech. 
‘‘(C) An assessment of the extent to which gov-
ernment authorities in that country have persecuted, 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:42 Feb 07, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H491.IH
H491
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
prosecuted, or otherwise punished an individual or 
group for the nonviolent expression of political, reli-
gious, or ideological opinion or belief via the Inter-
net, including electronic mail. 
‘‘(D) An assessment of the extent to which gov-
ernment authorities in that country have sought to 
collect, request, obtain, or disclose the personally 
identifiable information of a person in connection 
with that person’s nonviolent expression of political, 
religious, or ideological opinion or belief, including 
without limitation communication that would be pro-
tected by the International Covenant on Civil and 
Political Rights. 
‘‘(E) An assessment of the extent to which wire 
communications and electronic communications are 
illicitly monitored in that country. 
‘‘(2) In compiling data and making assessments for 
the purposes of paragraph (1), United States diplomatic 
mission personnel shall consult with human rights organi-
zations, technology and Internet companies, and other ap-
propriate nongovernmental organizations. 
‘‘(3) In this subsection— 
‘‘(A) the term ‘electronic communication’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 2510 of title 
18, United States Code; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
01:28 Feb 08, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H491.IH
H491
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(B) the term ‘Internet’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 231(e)(3) of the Communications 
Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 231(e)(3)); 
‘‘(C) the term ‘personally identifiable informa-
tion’ means data in a form that identifies a par-
ticular person; and 
‘‘(D) the term ‘wire communication’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 2510 of title 18, 
United States Code.’’. 
(b) REPORT RELATING TO SECURITY ASSISTANCE.— 
Section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
15 U.S.C. 2304) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(j)(1) The report required by subsection (b) shall 
include an assessment of freedom of expression with re-
spect to electronic information in each foreign country. 
Such assessment shall consist of the following: 
‘‘(A) An assessment of the general extent to 
which Internet access is available to and used by 
citizens in that country. 
‘‘(B) An assessment of the extent to which gov-
ernment authorities in that country attempt to filter, 
censor, or otherwise block or remove nonviolent ex-
pression of political or religious opinion or belief via 
the Internet, including electronic mail, as well as a 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
01:28 Feb 08, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H491.IH
H491
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
description of the means by which such authorities 
attempt to block or remove protected speech. 
‘‘(C) An assessment of the extent to which gov-
ernment authorities in that country have persecuted, 
prosecuted, or otherwise punished an individual or 
group for the peaceful expression of political, reli-
gious, or ideological opinion or belief via the Inter-
net, including electronic mail. 
‘‘(D) An assessment of the extent to which gov-
ernment authorities in that country have sought to 
collect, request, obtain, or disclose the personally 
identifiable information of a person in connection 
with that person’s communication of ideas, facts, or 
views where such communication would be protected 
by the International Covenant on Civil and Political 
Rights. 
‘‘(E) An assessment of the extent to which wire 
communications and electronic communications are 
illicitly monitored in that country. 
‘‘(2) In compiling data and making assessments for 
the purposes of paragraph (1), United States diplomatic 
mission personnel shall consult with human rights organi-
zations, technology and Internet companies, and other ap-
propriate nongovernmental organizations. 
‘‘(3) In this subsection— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:42 Feb 07, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H491.IH
H491
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(A) the term ‘electronic communication’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 2510 of title 
18, United States Code; 
‘‘(B) the term ‘Internet’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 231(e)(3) of the Communications 
Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 231(e)(3)); 
‘‘(C) the term ‘personally identifiable informa-
tion’ means data in a form that identifies a par-
ticular person; and 
‘‘(D) the term ‘wire communication’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 2510 of title 18, 
United States Code.’’. 
SEC. 104. ANNUAL DESIGNATION OF INTERNET-RESTRICT-
ING COUNTRIES; REPORT. 
(a) DESIGNATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and an-
nually thereafter, the Secretary of State shall des-
ignate Internet-restricting countries for purposes of 
this Act. 
(2) STANDARD.—A foreign country shall be 
designated as an Internet-restricting country if the 
Secretary of State, after consultation with the Sec-
retary of Commerce, determines, based on the review 
of the evidence that the government of the country 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
01:28 Feb 08, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H491.IH
H491
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS