S.Amdt. 5841

This amendment, known as the Open Technology Fund Reauthorization Act, aims to add a new section (Section 1270A) to the end of title XII of bill S. 4784. Its purpose is to authorize and regulate the Open Technology Fund, an independent nonprofit corporation.

The amendment establishes the following:

• Purpose: The fund is authorized to receive congressional appropriations to promote unrestricted access to uncensored information on the internet, consistent with United States law.
• Governance: It will be run by a bipartisan Board of Directors consisting of at least 5 qualified individuals who are not public sector employees. No employee of the fund can be a Federal employee.
• Key Goals: The fund will work to advance press freedom and internet access in repressive environments. This includes researching and developing tools to bypass censorship used by nonstate actors and authoritarian governments.
• Operating Rules:
  • It must prioritize open-source tools and undergo security audits.
  • It must use a transparent, competitive application process for project proposals.
  • It is prohibited from using funds to influence legislation in Congress.
• Accountability:
  • The fund must provide an annual report detailing global internet freedom trends and the impact of its projects.
  • Financial transactions are subject to audits by the Government Accountability Office.
  • The Inspector General of the Department of State is authorized to exercise oversight authorities.
• Legal Changes: The amendment makes several changes to the Department of State Authorization Act of 2002 and the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to reflect the fund's role and repeal certain sections.