Boise City Wire

U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Dan Sullivan have reintroduced the Informing a Nation with Free, Open, and Reliable Media (INFORM) Act. This bipartisan bill aims to improve access to independent information and promote freedom of expression for citizens in the People’s Republic of China.

The legislation seeks to enhance efforts at the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for Global Media by developing technology that bypasses Chinese internet censorship. It also supports secure content-sharing tools for citizens and bolsters independent Mandarin language journalism.

Senator Sullivan stated, "One of Xi Jinping’s greatest weaknesses is that he is afraid of his own people." He emphasized the importance of exploiting this weakness by utilizing America's commitment to liberty as a strategic advantage. According to him, the INFORM Act aims to circumvent China's censorship system, known as the 'great firewall,' enabling Chinese citizens to access truthful information about their government.

Ranking Member Shaheen highlighted that "Chinese citizens are subjected to extreme government censorship," noting their growing demand for independent news sources amid deteriorating economic and social conditions in China. She added, "Our bipartisan INFORM Act will help empower the Chinese people to access independent, unbiased information."

Key provisions of the INFORM Act include developing a comprehensive strategy at the State Department for expanding engagement with Chinese citizens through improved coordination among federal agencies. The bill also calls for increased funding for media freedom programs and Mandarin content development initiatives while providing resources for circumvention tools against censorship.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.