Global internet freedom

It is the policy of the United States to promote internet freedom through programs of the Department and USAID that preserve and expand the internet as an open, global space for freedom of expression and association, which shall be prioritized for countries— Global internet freedom programming under this section— shall be coordinated with other United States foreign assistance programs that promote democracy and support the efforts of civil society— shall seek to assist efforts— There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2023— $49,000,000 to the United States Agency for Global Media (referred to in this section as the “USAGM”) and its grantees, for internet freedom and circumvention technologies that are designed— For any new tools or techniques authorized under subsection (c)(2), the Chief Executive Officer of the USAGM, in consultation with the President of the Open Technology Fund (referred to in this subsection as the “OTF”) and relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall submit an annual certification to the appropriate congressional committees that verifies they— The Secretary may not direct programs or policy of the USAGM or the OTF, but may share any research and development with relevant Federal departments and agencies for the exclusive purposes of— The Chief Executive Officer of the USAGM, in consultation with the President of the OTF, shall— Not later than 120 days after December 23, 2022, the Chief Executive Office of the USAGM shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes— as of the date of the report— the full scope of internet freedom programs within the USAGM, including— successful examples from the Office of Internet Freedom and Open Technology Fund involving— Not later than 60 days after December 23, 2022, the Secretary and the Administrator of USAID shall jointly submit a report, which may include a classified annex, to the appropriate congressional committees that describes— as of the date of the report— the full scope of internet freedom programs within the Department and USAID, including— any new resources needed to provide the Federal Government with greater capacity to provide and boost internet access— Before providing any support for open source technologies under this section, such technologies must undergo comprehensive security audits to ensure that such technologies are secure and have not been compromised in a manner that is detrimental to the interest of the United States or to the interests of individuals and organizations benefitting from programs supported by such funding. Subject to paragraph (2), there is authorized to be appropriated, in addition to amounts otherwise made available for such purposes, up to $2,500,000 to support internet freedom programs in closed societies, including programs that— Amounts authorized to be appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) may not be expended until the Secretary has certified to the appropriate congressional committees, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives that the use of such funds is in the national interest of the United States. In this section, the term “internet censorship circumvention tool” means a software application or other tool that an individual can use to evade foreign government restrictions on internet access.