NGO Joint Statement in Support of H.R. 275

The Global Online Freedom Act of 2007
October 19, 2007
 
Dear Members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs,
 
We write in support of H.R. 275, the Global Online Freedom Act of 2007, which would prevent U.S. companies from carrying out or facilitating the suppression of Online speech in repressive countries.
 
Undemocratic governments, such as China, Cuba, and Iran, are now making Internet and technology companies allies in their effort to censor and repress the Internet. To use China as an example, the Chinese Government has pressured Yahoo! to turn over to its secret police the names of political dissidents who send sensitive information over e-mail. One such dissident, Shi Tao, was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison after being identified by Yahoo!. China has convinced Microsoft to shut down Internet blogs in which Chinese users were criticizing their government, and persuaded Google to censor its search engine results.
 
People living under repressive governments are better off if U.S. companies are there to influence the development of this medium—but only so long as U.S. companies operate by a higher standard than do local providers. Thus far, the leading U.S. companies are not doing so. And they are unable to stand up to repressive governments without clear rules of the road and strong engagement from the U.S. Government.
 
Crucially, the bill would make it more difficult for repressive governments to obtain Internet user information from U.S. companies when seeking to punish dissidents or other individuals for exercising their right to free expression, as user data would have to be stored outside countries such as China that use such information to jail its citizens. In addition, the bill prohibits U.S. companies from disclosing to officials of repressive countries such as China personally identifying user information except for legitimate law enforcement purposes.
 
We support the speedy enactment of this important legislation.
 
 
 
Amnesty International                                    China Information Center
 
 
 
Human Rights Watch                                    Religious Freedom Coalition
 
 
 
Reporters Without Borders