The bipartisan INFORM Act is a bill that directs the U.S. executive branch to share clear, independent information with Chinese citizens in a bid to prioritize meaningful engagement.

By Ben Cardin | Senator and Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee | Published by Newsweek

Summary

The INFORM Act introduced on Nov. 21 by Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) is aimed at providing Chinese citizens with access to uncensored information.

Recognizing the growing skepticism among Chinese citizens towards the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and their increasing demand for alternative information sources, the INFORM Act would direct the U.S. State Department to create a comprehensive plan for engaging with Chinese citizens. It also supports the production and dissemination of Chinese-language content, an increase in funding for investigative journalism, and further complements the State Department’s efforts to develop technology to bypass the CCP’s “firewall” and to empower citizen journalists in China.

In a commentary about the Act, published by Newsweek on Nov. 25, Sen. Cardin began by highlighting a car ramming attack in southern China’s Zhuhai city earlier this month that left 35 dead and dozens injured, marking it as one of the country’s deadliest acts of public violence in decades. In the wake of the event, the senator notes how swiftly the CCP moved to censor news of the incident, including social media posts about the attack, as well as the removal of makeshift memorials and flower arrangements left in remembrance, leaving citizens unable to grieve or discuss the tragedy publicly.

Despite challenges, writes Sen. Cardin, Chinese citizens are nevertheless increasingly questioning their government’s policies and seeking alternative sources of information. He points to the 2022 White Paper Movement protests against the CCP’s “zero-COVID” policy as signalling a growing demand for greater freedoms.

Characterizing these developments as a moment to seize on, the senator calls for bold steps to engage with the Chinese people, deepen understanding, and build genuine connections. The bipartisan INFORM Act, introduced to share independent information with Chinese citizens, he says, aims to spark a conversation in Congress about supporting the rights and freedoms of those enduring repression and censorship.

“Each silenced story, each deleted post, and each dismantled memorial is a stark reminder that, without the means to connect, learn, and question, the Chinese people are left isolated from the truth and the outside world.” ~ Senator Ben Cardin

To read the full commentary by Sen. Cardin, continue to the publisher’s website here.