A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Jimmy Lai Internet Freedom Act. It sets up programs through the Department of State and the Open Technology Fund to develop and share internet tools that bypass censorship in Hong Kong. The bill responds to actions taken by the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong authorities that limit free speech and online access. It allows the government to give grants to private groups for digital security and firewall circumvention tools. It also authorizes specific funding amounts from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for these programs. Finally, it requires the Secretary of State and an interagency working group to submit a strategic planning report to Congress.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +8
Does this protect the individual right to speak freely?
The bill directly supports freedom of speech and press freedom in Hong Kong by countering state-mandated internet censorship and surveillance.
- Scored +7
Does this get reliable internet to more people?
The bill funds the development and deployment of firewall circumvention tools and virtual private networks to maintain internet access in Hong Kong.
- Scored +6
Does this favour talking over confrontation abroad?
The legislation promotes human rights and internet freedom by supporting pro-democracy actors and uncensored communication in Hong Kong.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes appropriations of $15,000,000 annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for internet freedom and censorship circumvention programs.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 5 and Section 6: The bill creates the Hong Kong Internet Freedom Program and authorizes grants to private organizations to develop disruptive technologies, virtual private networks, and firewall circumvention tools. This is positive because it gives people in Hong Kong practical ways to access uncensored information and communicate freely online despite local restrictions.
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Section 6(a)(1)(H): This provision allows grants to fund digital resiliency and emergency support for pro-democracy activists, international organizations, and civil society actors in Hong Kong. This is positive because it provides direct safety and security assistance to individuals facing political risks and crackdowns.
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Section 6(a)(4): The bill requires comprehensive security audits for any new technologies developed using these grants. This is positive because it ensures the tools provided to the public are secure and have not been compromised by bad actors.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 6(c): This section authorizes the appropriation of $5,000,000 to the Open Technology Fund and $10,000,000 to the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031. This could be considered a negative or a financial burden for United States taxpayers because it spends federal funds on overseas technology programs.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the individual right to speak freely? — The bill directly supports freedom of speech and press freedom in Hong Kong by countering state-mandated internet censorship and surveillance. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The legislation requires a comprehensive strategic planning report and security audits to be submitted to appropriate congressional committees. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands federal agency authority through the creation of an interagency working group and grant programs administered by the Department of State.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Younger demographics in Hong Kong who rely heavily on digital platforms will benefit from access to uncensored communication tools. Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill provides digital security and emergency support for civil society actors and activists facing political risks in Hong Kong.
- Education And Technology
- Does this get reliable internet to more people? — The bill funds the development and deployment of firewall circumvention tools and virtual private networks to maintain internet access in Hong Kong.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this favour talking over confrontation abroad? — The legislation promotes human rights and internet freedom by supporting pro-democracy actors and uncensored communication in Hong Kong.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes appropriations of $15,000,000 annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for internet freedom and censorship circumvention programs.
- 9/24/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia