DOJ Opposes 'Internet Freedom' Bill

Justice Department wrote to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman earlier this week opposing a bill introduced by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) aimed at promoting global Internet freedom. The letter argues the proposal could compromise the agency's ability to work with foreign law enforcement and said certain provisions raise constitutional red flags. The Foreign Affairs Committee approved Smith's bill when the late Tom Lantos (D-CA) chaired the committee. He died earlier this year and Berman has recently been studying the bill to fully understand its ramifications. An aide said he is "in the process of holding meetings with human rights groups and with business and technology groups." Meanwhile, DOJ thinks the measure could thrust U.S. firms "into an environment of conflict of laws and to create significant difficulties for the department in the administration of the bill's requirements." As written, the bill "may have the unintended effect of prompting foreign countries to preclude United States businesses from operating in their territories, thus having the exact opposite effect of its intended goal," the letter said.
http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2008/05/doj_opposes_internet_freedom_b.php