REPS. DEMINGS & KEATING PREPARING INTERNET FREEDOM LEGISLATION

Press Release

Today Rep. Val Demings (FL-10) and House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Chairman William R. Keating (MA-09) announced the development of broad new legislation to support internet freedom technologies that allow people in authoritarian regimes to circumvent censorship, communicate safely with their loved ones, share information, support protesters, and succeed in the struggle for freedom.

Said Rep. Demings and Chairman Keating, "Across the globe, from Cuba to Belarus, grassroots, democratic movements are actively working to push back against authoritarian regimes and are using technology like social media and messaging platforms to communicate with each other. These technologies allow democratic movements to communicate even when press freedom is restricted or under full government control. To counter this, authoritarian leaders have continued to restrict general access to the internet to prevent communication during critical times, such as during elections or non-violent protests.

"We are crafting new legislation to provide surge capacity funding for internet freedom technology that empowers democratic movements to continue their important work. This technology allows its users cost-free access to social media and other messaging services even during government-controlled internet blackouts. We believe access to this technology is vitally important for the United States' mission to support democracy globally and fight back against malign actors, such as Russian and China, who are exporting censorship technology in support of other authoritarian regimes. Most importantly, this legislation will support individuals, from Cuba to Venezuela and Belarus to Russia, in their struggle for freedom. We look forward to working together on these important issues and will continue to provide information on its development."

Rep. Demings is a former 27-year police officer and former Chief of the Orlando Police Department and serves on the House Intelligence Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She chairs the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.

Rep. Keating was District Attorney in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, for twelve years prior to coming to Congress. He is the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Energy, the Environment and Cyber as well as a senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Rep. Demings previously identified up to $2.5 million per year in unallocated appropriation for "surges" to internet freedom programs, and called on the Biden Administration to immediately implement grants to fund internet access programs in Cuba. Florida Politics: "Democratic Rep. Val Demings on Friday called for President Joe Biden to help push internet access into Cuba…Demings, of Orlando, is putting money on the table."

This legislation follows on that effort, allocating new funding to create a broader, flexible, nimble, and effective program.

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