Apr 4, 2023
The Great Firewall of America
VPN Users Risk 20-Year Jail Sentences in the US Under New RESTRICT Act
https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/s686/BILLS-118s686is.pdf
Congress is pushing a bill called the "Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology Act" or the "RESTRICT Act” since they can’t seem to find another way to ban TikTok.
This is Katy Craig in San Diego, California.
It looks like the US is trying to follow in China's footsteps, but this time it isn't with their economic policies - they're looking to create a "Great Firewall of America"! This proposed legislation, called RESTRICT, seeks to make TikTok and VPNs illegal across the country. The bill makes the use of VPNs punishable by up to $1 million in fines and 20 years in jail.
This means that if you want access to your favorite apps or websites, you'll have no choice but to go through government-approved channels. That sounds like a recipe for disaster! Not only will users be denied access from outside sources, but companies won't be able to offer their services without risking legal repercussions.
We can all agree that there are some very real security concerns when it comes to online privacy and safety, so we should definitely take steps towards protecting our data from malicious actors. However, this proposed legislation goes too far by taking away our freedom of choice on how we use the internet - something many people rely on for work or entertainment purposes! Let's hope Congress reconsiders before making us all feel trapped behind an American Great Firewall!
This is Katy Craig. Stay safe out there.