Sec. 249B. Engagement with civil society in Latin America and the Caribbean regarding accountability, human rights, and the risks of pervasive surveillance technologies
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It is the sense of Congress that— the Government of China is exporting its model for internal security and state control of society through advanced technology and artificial intelligence; and the adoption of surveillance systems can lead to breaches of citizens’ private information, increased censorship, violations of civil rights, and harassment of political opponents. The Secretary of State shall conduct diplomatic engagement with governments and civil society organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean to— help identify and mitigate the risks to civil liberties posed by pervasive surveillance and monitoring technologies; and offer recommendations on ways to mitigate such risks.
The Chief Executive Officer of the United States Agency for Global Media, working through the Open Technology Fund, and the Secretary of State, working through the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor’s Internet Freedom and Business and Human Rights Section, shall expand and prioritize efforts to provide anti-censorship technology and services to journalists and citizens in Latin America, in order to enhance their ability to safely access or share digital news and information without fear of repercussions or surveillance.
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall work through nongovernmental organizations to— support and promote programs that support internet freedom and the free flow of information online in Latin America and the Caribbean; protect open, interoperable, secure, and reliable access to internet in Latin America and the Caribbean; provide integrated support to civil society for technology, digital safety, policy and advocacy, and applied research programs in Latin America and the Caribbean; train journalists and civil society leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean on investigative techniques necessary to ensure public accountability and prevent government overreach in the digital sphere; assist independent media outlets and journalists in Latin America and the Caribbean to build their own capacity and develop high-impact, in-depth news reports covering governance and human rights topics; provide training for journalists and civil society leaders on investigative techniques necessary to improve transparency and accountability in government and the private sector; provide training on investigative reporting relating to media reporting of incidents of corruption and unfair trade, business and commercial practices, including the role of the Government of China in such practices; and assist nongovernmental organizations to strengthen their capacity to monitor the activities described in paragraph (7).
Not more than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, and the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Agency for Global Media shall provide a briefing regarding the efforts described in subsections (c), (d), and
(e)to— the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.