May 2nd, 2008
Bill would penalize companies that aid net censorship
The Global Online Freedom Act, introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), would penalize companies who facilitate other countries censoring the Internet. Call it the anti-Yahoo law.
“American high-tech firms have produced the technology and know-how that has led to a modern-day information revolution,” Smith said in a statement. “Sadly, however, instead of working to allow everyone to benefit from these advancements, these same high-tech firms are colluding with dictators and tyrannical regimes such as China to suppress human rights information and punish pro-democracy advocates.”
The timing of the bill is hardly random. It’s directly targeting the Beijing Olympics.
The gross mistake of allowing China to host the Olympics in light of its horrific human rights record will be significantly compounded if we do not speak up and call attention to the human rights heroes who languish in Chinese jails,” Smith said. “We also need to take action to protect journalists and pro-democracy activists who may otherwise become the next victims after the spotlight provided by the Olympics is gone from the world’s center stage.
“Who can forget that when they were vying for the 2000 Olympics, the Chinese government let Wei Jingsheng out of prison. I met him in Beijing when he was let out, very briefly. As soon as they didn’t get the Olympics, they rearrested him and beat him and tortured him.” said Smith,
Reporters Without Borders is supporting the bill:
“By moving quickly to pass this bill in advance of the Beijing Olympics, Congress would send a clear message that US technology firms cannot be forced to violate international human rights standards. It would signal to people around the world that the United States will act to defend free expression on the Internet.”
Among other things, the bill creates a private right of action for individuals; prohibits US internet service providers from blocking online content of US government or US-government financed sites; establishes a new agency within the State Department – the Office of Global Internet Freedom; and requires the president to define as “Internet Restricting Countries” those nations that “systematically restrict” Internet access.
