Smith Reintroduces Web Freedom Bill

Reps Chris Smith (R-NJ), Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Frank Wolf (R-VA) have introduced the Global On line Freedom Act, a bill that would prevent US technology companies from working with repressive foreign governments that seek to conduct Internet surveillance to find, capture, convict and often torture citizens for engaging in democracy promotion and human rights advocacy online. would require American IT companies that do business with countries known for clamping down on free speech to keep records on and notify the Justice Department of demands for personal information about Internet users. The legislation also would give the attorney general authority to order tech firms not to comply with those demands if there is a reasonable likelihood that the request is not made for legitimate law enforcement purposes. Additionally, the bill would require the U.S. firms to disclose data they block when asked by foreign governments and disclose how they filter search engine results. Smith's bill passed several House committees last Congress but he could not secure a floor vote before the session ended.