Sec. 6. Strategy for increasing access to independent information for citizens of the People’s Republic of China
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/bill/119/s/417/is/section-6A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit a strategy to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives for increasing access to independent information for citizens of the PRC who are within or outside the PRC. The strategy required under subsection
(a)shall include— a plan for increasing the accessibility and adoption of circumvention and secure communications tools within the PRC, which may include— an assessment of the technical challenges of the PRC’s information control regime; and an evaluation of research, technological, and other gaps that may affect strategy implementation; an assessment of Mandarin Chinese-language content creation and distribution capabilities within the Department, across the interagency task force established pursuant to section 8, and among other Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate, including— whether United States Government-produced, Mandarin Chinese-language content is accessible either inside or outside the PRC; the uptake of, and engagement with, various types of content among citizens of the PRC within or outside the PRC; the use of survey tools and other data sources to assess the areas of interest and concern, whether domestic or international, among different segments of PRC citizens; and where gaps or duplication of effort exist in the efficacy of the Mandarin Chinese-language content developed and disseminated by the Department or the interagency task force, and how such gaps or duplication will be addressed through the strategy; a description of how the Department plans to improve coordination between components of the Department, and across the interagency task force, in— developing and disseminating compelling, accessible Mandarin Chinese-language content within and outside the PRC’s information control regime while avoiding duplication; and funding outside organizations to develop circumvention and secure content sharing tools; a description of how the Department plans to promote greater convergence and pairing between the development and dissemination of effective and high quality content and the circumvention tools used to access and share such content; a description of how the Department plans to develop networks with known and emerging Mandarin Chinese-language content developers and social media influencers through initiatives such as media and internet freedom programs based outside of the PRC; an assessment of the current efficacy of content generated by the Department that is disseminated within the PRC, including by United States embassies and consulates within the PRC, and how Department plans to improve the efficacy and use of content disseminated within the PRC; a plan for increasing digital engagement with citizens of the PRC who are living or traveling outside of the PRC by providing them with temporary access to an uncensored internet environment; and a description of any additional resources, including additional funding or authorities, needed to further the objectives outlined in the strategy. The strategy required under subsection
(a)shall be unclassified, but may include a classified annex.