Global Online Freedom Act of 2013
Latest action · Feb 25, 2013 Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedFeb 4, 2013
- Passed HouseNot reached
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Global Online Freedom Act of 2013 - Makes it U.S. policy to: (1) promote the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media; (2) use all appropriate instruments of U.S. influence to support the free flow of information without interference or discrimination; and (3) deter U.S. businesses from cooperating with Internet-restricting countries in effecting online censorship.
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President should seek international agreements to protect Internet freedom; and (2) U.S. businesses operating in foreign countries should ensure online access to U.S.-supported websites and government reports, promote the security of Internet users, and limit censorship of protected political and religious speech and information.
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require assessments of freedom of expression with respect to electronic information in each foreign country.
Directs the Secretary of State to annually designate Internet-restricting countries.
Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require each Internet communications service company that operates in an Internet-restricting country to include in its annual report information relating to: (1) human rights due diligence, (2) policies pertaining to the collection and disclosure of personally identifiable information, and (3) restrictions on Internet search engines or content hosting services. Sets forth an exception for companies that include in their annual report a certification of their participation in good standing with the Global Network Initiative or other specified multi-stakeholder initiatives.
Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979, as continued in effect under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, to direct the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) establish a list of goods and technology that would assist a foreign government in acquiring the capability to carry out censorship, surveillance, or any other related activity through means of telecommunications, including the Internet; and (2) prohibit the export of listed goods or technology to a government end-user (including a wholly or partially government-owned telecommunications or Internet service provider) in any Internet-restricting country.
Cosponsors 2
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Jun 10, 2013 to Aug 1, 2013.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-TX | Steve Stockman | Jun 10, 2013 | |
| D-CA | Brad Sherman | Aug 1, 2013 |
Actions 3
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Feb 25, 2013Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
- Feb 4, 2013Introduced in House
- Feb 4, 2013Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Financial Services, 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.
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: International Affairs.
- Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
- Business ethics
- Business records
- Computers and information technology
- Congressional oversight
- Corporate finance and management
- Freedom of information
- Government information and archives
- Human rights
- International Affairs
- International exchange and broadcasting
- Internet and video services
- Internet, web applications, social media
- Right of privacy
- Rule of law and government transparency
- Sanctions
- Trade agreements and negotiations
- Trade restrictions
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Feb 4, 2013Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov.
