The INFORM Act is a U.S. government initiative designed to help Chinese citizens access independent news and information that their government censors. China's government heavily restricts internet access through what's known as the "Great Firewall," blocking foreign news sites, blocking VPNs (tools that hide internet activity), and punishing people who try to access uncensored information. This bill aims to counter that by creating a coordinated U.S. government effort to get more independent news and information tools into China.

The bill establishes a task force across multiple U.S. government agencies to develop a strategy for reaching China's 1.4 billion citizens with uncensored news and information in Mandarin Chinese. It focuses on two main approaches: first, developing and improving tools that help people bypass China's internet restrictions, and second, creating compelling Chinese-language news content about topics Chinese citizens care about—like economic problems, government corruption, and quality of life issues. The bill also creates a new organization called the Global News Service that will curate and distribute uncensored China-related news in both Mandarin and English to journalists and media outlets worldwide, especially in countries influenced by Chinese state media.

To fund these efforts, the bill authorizes $25 million per year for the State Department and $50 million per year for U.S. international broadcasting agencies through 2029. The underlying idea is that Chinese citizens are increasingly interested in information their government won't let them see, and the U.S. wants to help meet that demand while also promoting human rights and accountability in China. The bill also directs the State Department to push back diplomatically against China's restrictions on American journalists, diplomats, and companies operating there.