Global Online Freedom Act of 2006

Bill: 109-hr-4780
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2006-02-16 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Armed Forces and National Security
Arms sales
Burma
Business ethics
Censorship
Central Asia
China
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Computers
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Corporate accountability
Corporation directors
Crime and Law Enforcement
Damages
Democracy
Department of State
East Asia
Economic assistance
Electronic mail systems
Executive reorganization
Export controls
Fines (Penalties)
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Freedom of information
Freedom of speech
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Human rights
Information services
Interactive media
International broadcasting
Internet
Iran
Law
Liability (Law)
Middle East and North Africa
Military assistance
Opposition (Political science)
Political persecution
President and foreign policy
Punitive damages
Religion
Religious liberty
Right of privacy
Science, Technology, Communications
Standards
Stockholders
Telecommunication industry
Tunisia
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Web sites

Summary:
action_date: 2006-02-16
text: 
Global Online Freedom Act of 2006 - States that it is the policy of the United States to: (1) promote the ability of all to access and contribute information, ideas, and knowledge via the Internet; (2) use all instruments of U.S. influence, including diplomacy, trade policy, and export controls, to support, promote, and strengthen the free flow of information; and (3) prohibit any U.S. business from cooperating with officials of Internet-restricting countries in effecting potential censorship of online content.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President should commence international negotiations to obtain the agreement of other countries to enact legislation similar to this Act and to pursue the development of international agreements protecting Internet freedom; and (2) some U.S. businesses, in assisting or empowering an authoritarian foreign government to restrict online access to websites such as the Voice of America and other broadcasts and information, are working contrary to U.S. foreign policy interests and undercutting efforts to promote freedom of information for all people.
 
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require, in reports relating to foreign economic and security assistance, assessments of the freedom of electronic information in each foreign country.
 
Establishes in the Department of State the Office of Global Internet Freedom to take specified actions to strengthen global freedom of electronic information.
 
Directs the President to designate Internet-restricting countries.
 
Provides minimum standards for U.S. businesses with respect to the protection of online freedom in foreign countries.
 
Authorizes the establishment of export controls against Internet-restricting foreign countries.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-06-22
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2006-06-22
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2006-06-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations.
action_date: 2006-03-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
action_date: 2006-02-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E205-206)
action_date: 2006-02-16
text: Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2006-02-16
text: Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2006-02-16
text: Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2006-02-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2006-02-16
text: Introduced in House