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HR 3605 112th Congress House

Global Online Freedom Act of 2011

Official title: To prevent United States businesses from cooperating with repressive governments in transforming the Internet into a tool of censorship and surveillance, to fu… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To prevent United States businesses from cooperating with repressive governments in transforming the Internet into a tool of censorship and surveillance, to fulfill the responsibility of the United States Government to promote freedom of expression on the Internet, to restore public confidence in the integrity of United States businesses, and for other purposes.

Introduced: December 8, 2011 Introduced by: Smith, Christopher H. Republican · New Jersey See on congress.gov
International Affairs Broadcasting, cable, digital technologiesBusiness ethicsBusiness recordsComputers and information technology
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Congressional oversightCorporate finance and managementFreedom of informationGovernment information and archivesHuman rightsInternational exchange and broadcastingInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaSanctionsTrade agreements and negotiationsTrade restrictions
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 8 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 19, 2012
Committee on Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Joint hearings held.
Mar 27, 2012
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Mar 27, 2012
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jan 12, 2012
Referred to the Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises.
Dec 14, 2011
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2249-2250)
Dec 13, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Dec 8, 2011
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Dec 8, 2011
Introduced in House
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 Latest action October 19, 2012

Committee on Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Joint hearings held.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Global Online Freedom Act of 2011 - Makes it U.S. policy to: (1) promote the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media; (2) use all appropriate instruments of U.S. influence to support the free flow of information without interference or discrimination; and (3) deter U.S. businesses from cooperating with Internet-restricting countries in effecting online censorship.

Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President should seek international agreements to protect Internet freedom; and (2) some U.S. businesses, in assisting foreign governments to restrict online access to U.S.-supported websites and government reports and to identify individual Internet users, are working contrary to U.S. foreign policy interests.

Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require assessments of electronic information freedom in each foreign country.

Directs the Secretary of State to annually designate Internet-restricting countries.

Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require each Internet communications services company that operates in an Internet-restricting country to include in its annual report information relating to: (1) human rights due diligence, (2) policies pertaining to the collection of personally identifiable information, and (3) restrictions on Internet search engines or content hosting services.

Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979, as continued in effect under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, to direct the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) establish a list of goods and technology that would assist a foreign government in acquiring the capability to carry out censorship, surveillance, or any other related activity through means of telecommunications, including the Internet; and (2) prohibit the export of listed goods or technology to a government end user in any Internet-restricting country.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3605: Global Online Freedom Act of 2011. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-3605/
MLA
"H.R. 3605: Global Online Freedom Act of 2011." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-3605/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3605, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-3605/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3605: Global Online Freedom Act of 2011](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-3605/)
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