Global Online Freedom Act Would Make Some Types of Cooperation With China Criminal

Filed in archive Law on October 29, 2007

If Congressman Chris Smith (R-New Jersey) and the rest of the House Foreign Affairs Committee get their way, it may soon be a violation of U.S. law for U.S. companies that operate in China to help China censor the Internet or track down political dissidents, according to PC Pro.




The bill, the Global Online Freedom Act of 2007, has passed a committee vote and could now be considered by the House of Representative. Among its provisions, the bill specifically "prohibit US 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."

While the bill would have an impact in several countries, it is aimed at China. The bill would put a number of U.S Internet firms in a hard spot. China makes demands on these companies in the form of requests for information. Yahoo in particular has complied in the past and is accused of providing personal information to the Chinese government on two individuals who were then arrested for online political activity. The House Foreign Affairs Committee is currently trying to get Yahoo to answer some questions about that particular incident.