The Global Online Freedom Act: Governments Can’t Protect Freedom by Themselves

New legislation being considered in Congress would prevent U.S. companies from aiding the censorship and surveillance operations of repressive foreign governments. The Global Online Freedom Act (GOFA), sponsored by Chris Smith (R., N.J.), would track foreign Internet monitoring and blocking efforts under a new Office of Global Internet Freedom and would prevent U.S. tech firms from handing over sensitive user information to so-called Internet-Restricting Countries. On balance, GOFA would help the cause of Internet freedom, or at least provide a better understanding of surveillance worldwide. Yet some of the provisions are misguided, and could actually hurt the cause GOFA aims to further.

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