First Foreign Censorship Shield Bill Proposed in Wyoming

A blog post by Preston Byrne, the lawyer representing 4chan in the ongoing legal case with Ofcom, announced that the GRANITE Act, “the first foreign censorship shield bill ever conceived in the history of the United States,” has been filed in the state of Wyoming.

The bill would give Wyoming residents a way to fight back against attempted foreign censorship, such as what the UK Ofcom has been attempting to do after passing the so-called “Online Safety Act.” The act enforces age checks for harmful content, which includes things like pornography and mentions of suicide, really the definition could include anything the UK government doesn’t like.

Ofcom has tried to fine multiple non-UK websites for failing to comply with the regulations, including Wikipedia of all things.

Their targeting of 4chan with fines has resulted in the lawsuit mentioned above. Foreign censorship shield bills like the Wyoming GRANITE Act would provide targets of foreign censorship with significant legal recourse against such overreaches of power.

If we get corresponding federal action, this law – and laws like it – could represent the single greatest victory for global free speech in thirty years.

While filing a bill is simply the first step in the legal process, it represents a promising future for free speech.

You can read the full text of the bill courtesy of Preston.