Durbin, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Human Rights and the Law Subcommittee and held a May hearing on the topic, said that while companies operating in Internet-restricting countries have an obligation to respect free expression and user privacy, "governments bear the primary responsibility for protecting human rights." "Congress should follow the lead of the private sector by considering Internet freedom legislation that would complement the code of conduct," he said. Durbin said he looked forward to working with his Capitol Hill colleagues and the new presidential administration on this in 2009.