WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Rep. Chris Smith
 (R-NJ) announced today that he has reintroduced legislation which aims to
 promote free expression and a free flow of information on the Internet by
 preventing U.S. companies from aiding regimes who restrict access to the
 Internet.
     "American high-tech firms have produced the technology and know-how
 that has led to a modern-day information revolution. However, instead of
 working to allow everyone to benefit from these advancements, these same
 high-tech firms are colluding with dictators to suppress the spread of
 information and punish pro-democracy advocates," said Smith.
     The "Global Online Freedom Act of 2007" will strengthen the federal
 government's new strategy to promote online freedom by prohibiting U.S.
 Internet companies from cooperating with repressive regimes that restrict
 information about human rights and democracy on the Internet and use
 personally identifiable information to track down and punish democracy
 activists. The bill would make it a crime for Internet companies to turn
 over personal information to governments who use that information to
 suppress dissent.
     "American companies should not be working hand-in-glove with dictators.
 By blocking access to information and providing secret police with the
 technology to monitor dissidents, American IT companies are knowingly-and
 willingly-enabling the oppression of millions of people," Smith said in
 reference to companies who are complicit in helping dictators restrict free
 access to the Internet.
     Smith first introduced his legislation just days after he convened a
 landmark seven-hour hearing at which representatives from major tech
 Internet firms Microsoft, Google, Yahoo! and Cisco Systems testified that
 they have complied with censorship laws and/or provided personally
 identifiable information about Internet users to repressive regimes in
 countries where they do business. The bill was approved by the House
 subcommittee that had jurisdiction of human rights during the 109th
 Congress, but the session ended before the bill could be brought before the
 full House for a vote.
     Authoritarian regimes including China, Belarus, Cuba, Ethiopia, Iran,
 Laos, North Korea, Tunisia and Vietnam are all known to block, restrict and
 monitor the free flow of information on the Internet. In some of the more
 egregious cases, democracy activists have been tracked down and
 incarcerated for their online communications. American IT companies
 Microsoft, Google, Yahoo! and Cisco Systems have assisted repressive
 regimes who censor information, monitor Internet usage and punish political
 dissidents.
     "By helping dictators stifle free speech and spy on dissidents,
 American IT companies are putting profits before principles," said Smith.
     Smith said he felt positive about the prospects for Congressional
 approval of the "Global Online Freedom Act of 2007" in the 110th Congress,
 especially in light of recent efforts by shareholders to pressure these
 companies to change their business practices with repressive countries.
 Last November, 29% of Cisco Systems shareholders voted for an unprecedented
 resolution that would have forced the company to account for its activities
 in repressive countries.
     "Investors are taking notice of the repressive business practices of
 these Internet companies and are starting to voice their opposition in
 masses. Corporations need to heed these concerns and understand that it is
 good business to promote human rights, not suppress them," said Smith.
     Specifically, the "Global Online Freedom Act of 2007":
 
     * Prohibits US companies from disclosing to foreign officials of an
       "Internet Restricting Country" information that personally identifies a
       particular user except for "legitimate foreign law enforcement
       purposes;"
     * Creates a private right of action for individuals aggrieved by the
       disclosure of such personal identification to file suit in any US
       district court;
     * Prohibits US internet service providers from blocking online content of
       US government or US-government financed sites;
     * Authorizes $50 million for a new interagency office within the State
       Department charged with developing and implementing a global strategy to
       combat state-sponsored internet jamming by repressive countries;
     * Requires the new Office of Global Internet Freedom to monitor filtered
       terms; and to work with Internet companies and the non-profit sector to
       develop a voluntary code of minimum corporate standards related to
       Internet freedom.
     * Requires Internet companies to disclose to the new Office of Global
       Internet Freedom the terms they filter and the parameters they must meet
       in order to do business in Internet Restricting Countries;
     * Requires the President to submit to Congress an annual report
       designating as an "Internet Restricting Country" any nation that
       systematically and substantially restrict internet freedom;
     * Establishes civil penalties for businesses (up to $2 million) and
       individuals (up to $100,000) for violations of the new requirements;
     * Mandates a feasibility study, by the Department of Commerce, to
       determine what type of restrictions and safeguards should be imposed on
       the export of computer equipment which could be used in an Internet
       Restricting Country to restrict Internet freedom.
     Contact: Patrick Creamer of the Office of U.S. Rep. Chris Smith,
 +1-202-225-3765.
 
 

SOURCE Office of U.S. Rep. Chris Smith