Wu May Pursue Internet Freedom Measure
Rep. David Wu, D-Ore., said he may sponsor a House version of the resolution the Senate passed Tuesday condemning the cyber attack against Google that originated from China. In an interview, Wu said he also may introduce binding legislation that would establish an Internet freedom institute to educate and advocate for Internet freedom.
Wu, the chairman of the Science and Technology Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation, said such an institute also would be charged with sponsoring research into technologies aimed at helping citizens bypass measures imposed by foreign countries to restrict or censor access to information. Wu introduced a resolution last June that said the United States has "grave concerns" about China's Green Dam filtering system, which blocks access to some Web sites and information for users in China.
"I feel strongly about this issue ... and want to be active for the long haul," said Wu, the first Chinese American to serve in the House. Wu said his staff has been examining where such a foundation should be housed, possibly within the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or perhaps as a stand-alone entity.
Google revealed in mid-January that it had been attacked from a source originating in China, which appeared to be aimed at gaining access to the e-mail accounts of human rights activists. In response, Google announced it would stop censoring its search results for users in China - although it hasn't actually begun doing so - a move that may force it to leave China.
Wu said he has not been satisfied with the response of some Obama administration officials to the cyber attack against Google and other firms. He noted that after the Google incident, "I blew my stack" during a conversation with an international trade official at the Commerce Department who said he planned to take the lead on the issue from Google. "Can you imagine a government agency saying they'll take Google's lead," Wu said. "We're talking about a crime committed on U.S. soil."
Still, Wu said he was pleased with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's Internet freedom speech last month in which she pledged to make the issue a diplomatic priority. "I'm grateful Secretary of State Clinton elevated the level of discussion," he said.
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