Interior Alaska News

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

The legislation seeks to bolster efforts by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for Global Media in developing technology that bypasses Chinese internet censorship. It also aims to provide secure content-sharing tools for citizens and support independent Mandarin language journalism. The act is designed to empower citizen journalism and independent media outlets within China.

Senator Sullivan stated, "One of Xi Jinping’s greatest weaknesses is that he is afraid of his own people." He emphasized that the legislation provides a strategy to exploit this weakness by leveraging America's commitment to liberty. Sullivan noted, "The CCP’s vast censorship apparatus—the ‘great firewall’—works to silence free expression and deny their citizens truthful information about the corruption of CCP leaders."

Ranking Member Shaheen highlighted the need for independent news sources as economic and social conditions in China deteriorate. She remarked, "Chinese citizens are subjected to extreme government censorship," adding that empowering them with unbiased information is crucial.

The INFORM Act includes several key provisions aimed at countering Chinese censorship and supporting free expression.