It has been four years since Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) first introduced a bill that in part would penalize Web companies that turn over information to Internet-censoring countries.
Its first iteration in 2006 never reached the House floor. Neither did the bill's second version, pitched in 2007.
But the congressman stressed during an interview with The Hill on Friday that his Global Online Freedom Act now faces "very good" prospects for passage in 2010.
"It's an idea whose time is right now, it's come," stressed Smith, a co-founder of his chamber's Global Internet Freedom Caucus. "We've proven our point beyond any reasonable doubt."
Add new comment