Lankford, Kaine Introduce Jimmy Lai Internet Freedom Act to Counter China’s Internet Censorship in Hong Kong

WASHINGTON, DC - US Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) today introduced the bipartisan Jimmy Lai Internet Freedom Act to assist the people of Hong Kong in circumventing Chinese Communist Party (CCP) censorship and maintain access to a free and open internet.

The bill is named in honor of Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and publisher who was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Hong Kong court after being convicted under Beijing's National Security Law. The legislation responds to the CCP's continued erosion of Hong Kong's freedoms and expanding efforts to restrict access to information online. The bill notes that Beijing has used its National Security Law to suppress freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the press, while granting authorities expanded power to censor online content and obtain user information.

"The Chinese Communist Party has spent years tightening its grip on Hong Kong, and now it is working to control what people can see, say, and share online," said Lankford. This bill is about standing up for a free and open internet, pushing back against Beijing's model of censorship, and protecting American leadership in technology and freedom. We should not allow the CCP to export its model of censorship beyond its borders."

Background

The legislation would establish a Hong Kong Internet Freedom Program within the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor and a corresponding program at the Open Technology Fund. The programs would coordinate with an interagency working group to develop a strategy for strengthening internet resiliency and online access in Hong Kong.

Lankford has long worked on a bipartisan basis to confront the Chinese Communist Party's efforts to undermine freedom and spread authoritarian influence.

The Jimmy Lai Internet Freedom Act would:

• Establish a Hong Kong Internet Freedom Program at the Department of State and Open Technology Fund.
• Support technologies that allow Hongkongers to circumvent internet blocking, filtering, and censorship.
• Support virtual private networks and other firewall circumvention tools.
• Provide digital security and resiliency support to pro-democracy activists and civil society organizations.
• Require a strategic planning report outlining the federal government's efforts to expand internet freedom and circumvention technology in Hong Kong.

Lankford and Kaine first introduced the Safeguarding Internet Freedom in Hong Kong Act after Beijing imposed its National Security Law on Hong Kong. That legislation sought to develop and deploy firewall circumvention technology to help Hongkongers access information and communicate freely. Lankford has continued to work with Kaine on the legislation, including reintroducing it in 2023.

Lankford has repeatedly called attention to Beijing's repression of Hong Kong, including joining bipartisan efforts condemning the destruction of Hong Kong's democracy and rule of law and the political persecution of Jimmy Lai and other pro-democracy advocates. He has also supported the Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act to protect Hongkongers who face persecution for peacefully opposing Beijing.

Lankford has also worked more broadly to counter the CCP's influence and human rights abuses, including through his service on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China and legislation addressing China's economic coercion, human rights abuses, and influence operations.

You can download the full bill textHERE.

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