NetFreedom Task Force

The Global Internet Freedom Task Force (GIFT) is a reporting mechanism established by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on February 14, 2006. It seeks to consider foreign policy aspects of Internet freedom, and how the U.S. government can respond to these challenges.

The internal task force draws on the Department of State’s multidisciplinary expertise in international communications policy, human rights, democratization, business advocacy, corporate social responsibility, and relevant countries and regions. It reports to the Secretary through Under Secretary for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs and Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs.

The task force considers foreign policy aspects of Internet freedom, including:


 * The use of technology to restrict access to political content and the impact of such censorship efforts on U.S. companies;
 * The use of technology to track and repress dissidents; and
 * Efforts to modify Internet governance structures in order to restrict the free flow of information.

The task force focuses the State Department’s coordination with other agencies, U.S. Internet companies, non-governmental organizations, academic researchers, and other stakeholders.

The task force was mentioned by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in a speech on Internet freedom delivered at the Newseum in Washington DC on January 21, 2010, stating


 * We are reinvigorating the Global Internet Freedom Task Force as a forum for addressing threats to internet freedom around the world, and urging U.S. media companies to take a proactive role in challenging foreign governments' demands for censorship and surveillance.