Bill Sponsor
Senate Bill 3820
116th Congress(2019-2020)
Open Technology Fund Authorization Act
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on May 21, 2020
Overview
Text
Introduced
May 21, 2020
Latest Action
May 21, 2020
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
3820
Congress
116
Policy Area
International Affairs
International Affairs
Primary focus of measure is matters affecting foreign aid, human rights, international law and organizations; national governance; arms control; diplomacy and foreign officials; alliances and collective security. Measures concerning trade agreements, tariffs, foreign investments, and foreign loans may fall under Foreign Trade and International Finance policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Republican
Tennessee
Republican
Florida
Democrat
New Jersey
Democrat
Oregon
Senate Votes (0)
House Votes (0)
No Senate votes have been held for this bill.
Summary

Open Technology Fund Authorization Act

This bill authorizes the existing Open Technology Fund (OTF) as an independent grantee within the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM).

The OTF is an independent nonprofit organization within the purview of the USAGM that supports the development of internet freedom technologies that create ways to counter censorship efforts.

As an independent grantee authorized by this bill, the OTF shall seek to advance freedom of the press and unrestricted internet access in repressive environments through functions such as

  • researching, developing, implementing, and maintaining secure communications tools and technologies that circumvent censorship techniques used to limit or block access to the internet;
  • advancing internet freedom by supporting private and public sector efforts to provide secure and uncensored access to the internet; and
  • developing, acquiring, and distributing internet freedom technologies and techniques to fully enable the creation and distribution of digital content between and to all users and audiences.

To advance freedom of the press and unrestricted internet access, the OTF shall use methods that include

  • supporting fully open-source tools, code, and components that are as secure, transparent, and accessible as possible;
  • supporting technologies that undergo comprehensive security audits; and
  • establishing safeguards to mitigate the use of supported technologies for illicit purposes.

The Department of State must report on the effectiveness of the OTF and the extent to which U.S. interests are being served by its work, and the Government Accountability Office shall have access to all information pertaining to financial transactions as may be necessary to facilitate an audit.

Text (1)
Actions (2)
05/21/2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
05/21/2020
Introduced in Senate
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:42:37 PM