US Department of state to assign $1M to support internet freedom in Ukraine

The U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for programs aiming to promote Internet freedom in Ukraine, as to Detektor Media. In support of the National Cyber Strategy for the United State of America, DRL’s goal is to promote an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure Internet by promoting human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the free flow of information online, it is said at the web-site of US Department. The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) requests proposals for a program to empower cross-sector Internet freedom champions to advocate for policies that promote freedom of expression online in Ukraine. The program should bring together technology experts, lawyers, civil society, media, and private sector representatives to discuss and debate Internet freedom trends, challenges, and policies. The program should build the knowledge and advocacy capacity of these groups in order to support cross-sector engagement on domestic Internet freedom issues and to combat regional and domestic threats to freedom of expression online. The program should have a strong focus on consensus-building among Ukrainian stakeholders on freedom of expression during conflict, specifically addressing the issues of self-censorship and the intersection of national security concerns with freedom of expression online. The program should also connect domestic Internet freedom champions with international experts.