Sec. 7072.
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Of the funds available for obligation during fiscal year 2019 under the headings International Broadcasting Operations , Economic Support Fund , Democracy Fund , and Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia , not less than $60,500,000 shall be made available for programs to promote Internet freedom globally: , That such programs shall be prioritized for countries whose governments restrict freedom of expression on the Internet, and that are important to the national interest of the United States:
Provided , That funds made available pursuant to this section shall be matched, to the maximum extent practicable, by sources other than the United States Government, including from the private sector. Provided further Funds appropriated by this Act under the headings Economic Support Fund , Democracy Fund , and Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia that are made available pursuant to subsection
(a)shall be— coordinated with other democracy programs funded by this Act under such headings, and shall be incorporated into country assistance and democracy promotion strategies, as appropriate; for programs to implement the May 2011, International Strategy for Cyberspace; the Department of State International Cyberspace Policy Strategy required by section 402 of the Cybersecurity Act of 2015 (division N of Public Law 114–113 ); and the comprehensive strategy to promote Internet freedom and access to information in Iran, as required by section 414 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 ( 22 U.S.C. 8754 ); made available for programs that support the efforts of civil society to counter the development of repressive Internet-related laws and regulations, including countering threats to Internet freedom at international organizations; to combat violence against bloggers and other users; and to enhance digital security training and capacity building for democracy activists; made available for research of key threats to Internet freedom; the continued development of technologies that provide or enhance access to the Internet, including circumvention tools that bypass Internet blocking, filtering, and other censorship techniques used by authoritarian governments; and maintenance of the technological advantage of the United States Government over such censorship techniques: , That the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer
(CEO)of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), shall coordinate any such research and development programs with other relevant United States Government departments and agencies in order to share information, technologies, and best practices, and to assess the effectiveness of such technologies; and Provided made available only after the Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Department of State, concurs that such funds are allocated consistent with— the strategies referenced in subparagraph
(B)of this paragraph; best practices regarding security for, and oversight of, Internet freedom programs; and sufficient resources and support for the development and maintenance of anti-censorship technology and tools. Funds appropriated by this Act under the heading International Broadcasting Operations that are made available pursuant to subsection
(a)shall be— made available only for tools and techniques to securely develop and distribute BBG digital content; facilitate audience access to such content on websites that are censored; coordinate the distribution of BBG digital content to targeted regional audiences; and to promote and distribute such tools and techniques, including digital security techniques; coordinated with programs funded by this Act under the heading International Broadcasting Operations , and shall be incorporated into country broadcasting strategies, as appropriate; coordinated by the BBG CEO to provide Internet circumvention tools and techniques for audiences in countries that are strategic priorities for the BBG and in a manner consistent with the BBG Internet freedom strategy; and made available for the research and development of new tools or techniques authorized in paragraph
(A)only after the BBG CEO, in consultation with the Secretary of State and other relevant United States Government departments and agencies, evaluates the risks and benefits of such new tools or techniques, and establishes safeguards to minimize the use of such new tools or techniques for illicit purposes. After consultation among the relevant agency heads to coordinate and de-conflict planned activities, but not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the BBG CEO shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations spend plans for funds made available by this Act for programs to promote Internet freedom globally, which shall include a description of safeguards established by relevant agencies to ensure that such programs are not used for illicit purposes: , That the Department of State spend plan shall include funding for all such programs for all relevant Department of State and USAID offices and bureaus. Provided Funds made available pursuant to this section to promote Internet freedom globally may only be made available to support technologies that undergo comprehensive security audits conducted by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Department of State to ensure that such technology is secure and has not been compromised in a manner detrimental to the interest of the United States or to individuals and organizations benefiting from programs supported by such funds: , That the security auditing procedures used by such Bureau shall be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect current industry security standards. Provided Of the funds appropriated by this Act under the heading Economic Support Fund , up to $2,500,000 may be made available to surge Internet freedom programs in closed societies if the Secretary of State determines and reports to the appropriate congressional committees that such use of funds is in the national interest: , That such funds are in addition to amounts made available for such purposes: Provided , That such funds may be transferred to, and merged with, funds appropriated by this Act under the heading Provided further International Broadcasting Operations following consultation with, and the regular notification procedures of, the Committees on Appropriations.
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