3.0.0 3820 2023-01-11T13:42:37Z 2023-01-11T13:42:37Z Senate S 2020-05-21 116 ssfr00 Foreign Relations Committee Senate Standing Referred to 2020-05-21T19:31:50Z Open Technology Fund Authorization Act 116 6621 HR 2020-04-24 Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Related bill CRS National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 116 4049 S 2020-08-07 Held at the desk. 10:52:46 Related bill CRS 2020-05-21 ssfr00 Foreign Relations Committee Senate Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. IntroReferral 2020-05-21 Introduced in Senate IntroReferral 10000 9 Library of Congress B001243 Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN] Marsha Blackburn R TN N M000639 Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ] Robert Menendez D NJ 2020-05-21 True S001217 Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] Rick Scott R FL 2020-05-21 True W000779 Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] Ron Wyden D OR 2020-05-21 True International Affairs Accounting and auditing Advanced technology and technological innovations Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies Business records Computer security and identity theft Computers and information technology Congressional oversight Digital media Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad Foreign aid and international relief Human rights International exchange and broadcasting Internet and video services Internet, web applications, social media News media and reporting Research administration and funding Research and development Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status International Affairs 00 2020-05-21 Introduced in Senate 2021-01-07T14:45:28Z Open Technology Fund Authorization Act

This bill authorizes the existing Open Technology Fund (OTF) as an independent grantee within the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM).

The OTF is an independent nonprofit organization within the purview of the USAGM that supports the development of internet freedom technologies that create ways to counter censorship efforts.

As an independent grantee authorized by this bill, the OTF shall seek to advance freedom of the press and unrestricted internet access in repressive environments through functions such as

  • researching, developing, implementing, and maintaining secure communications tools and technologies that circumvent censorship techniques used to limit or block access to the internet;
  • advancing internet freedom by supporting private and public sector efforts to provide secure and uncensored access to the internet; and
  • developing, acquiring, and distributing internet freedom technologies and techniques to fully enable the creation and distribution of digital content between and to all users and audiences.

To advance freedom of the press and unrestricted internet access, the OTF shall use methods that include

  • supporting fully open-source tools, code, and components that are as secure, transparent, and accessible as possible;
  • supporting technologies that undergo comprehensive security audits; and
  • establishing safeguards to mitigate the use of supported technologies for illicit purposes.

The Department of State must report on the effectiveness of the OTF and the extent to which U.S. interests are being served by its work, and the Government Accountability Office shall have access to all information pertaining to financial transactions as may be necessary to facilitate an audit.

]]> Open Technology Fund Authorization Act Display Title Open Technology Fund Authorization Act Short Title(s) as Introduced Open Technology Fund Authorization Act Introduced in Senate IS Official Title as Introduced A bill to amend the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to authorize the Open Technology Fund of the United States Agency for Global Media, and for other purposes. Introduced in Senate IS Introduced in Senate 2020-05-21T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-116s3820is/xml/BILLS-116s3820is.xml 2020-05-21 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.