Sec. 7050.
661 words·~3 min read·
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Of the funds available for obligation during fiscal year 2021 under the headings International Broadcasting Operations , Economic Support Fund , Democracy Fund , and Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia , not less than $68,000,000 (increased by $2,500,000) shall be made available for programs to promote Internet freedom globally: Provided , 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 further , 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. 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 and activities described under this section in the report accompanying this Act; and made available only after the Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Department of State, concurs that such funds are allocated consistent with— programs and activities described in the report accompanying this Act pursuant to subparagraph (B); 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 United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) digital content, facilitate audience access to such content on websites that are censored, coordinate the distribution of USAGM 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 Chief Executive Officer
(CEO)of USAGM to provide Internet circumvention tools and techniques for audiences in countries that are strategic priorities for the USAGM and in a manner consistent with the USAGM Internet freedom strategy; and made available for the research and development of new tools or techniques authorized in subparagraph
(A)only after the USAGM 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 USAGM 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: Provided , That the Department of State spend plan shall include funding for all such programs for all relevant Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development offices and bureaus. 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: Provided , That the security auditing procedures used by such Bureau shall be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect current industry security standards.