Ansari, Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Promote Internet Freedom and Access to Information in Iran

WASHINGTON - Today, Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA), along with Representatives Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Dave Min (D-CA), and Stephanie Bice (R-OK) introduced the bipartisan Internet Reach and Access Now Act (IRAN) Act to promote internet freedom and access to information in Iran.

According to the Freedom House Index, Iran has the third-worst internet freedom score in the world.

"President Trump has said 'help is on the way' for Iranian people. Ensuring internet access would actually help people immediately--allowing them to access unbiased information, organize, and get in touch with loved ones. This is bipartisan, noncontroversial, and not militarily invasive; it can actually get done fast," said Rep. Ansari.

"Oppressive regimes fall when the illusion of their power breaks, and the people of Iran are ready to break through," said Rep. Swalwell. "Iranians want freedom, a mission I've always supported. That's why I introduced the Internet Reach and Access Now (IRAN) Act, to expand access to free internet for the Iranian people. Open internet access is a powerful tool for change and empowers the people to stand against the regime. Iranians want what people everywhere want: the freedom to choose their own future."

The IRAN Act Would:

• Require the Secretary of State to implement and regularly update a comprehensive strategy to promote internet freedom in Iran, coordinating across federal agencies.

• Require the State Department to update the Comprehensive Strategy to Promote Internet Freedom and Access to Information in Iran, which was required by the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8754).

• Adds three new objectives to the comprehensive strategy to ensure the strategy more accurately reflects technologies used by Iranian civil society. The new objectives are:

  • Evaluating the use of virtual private networks (VPNs), satellite internet, and direct-to-cell (DTC) satellite technologies by civil society and human rights activists in Iran and developing strategies for increasing the accessibility of such technologies;

  • Working with Treasury and Commerce to ensure that enforcement of sanctions does not prevent companies from providing the technology and other tools necessary to access the open internet;

  • Assessing the ability of the Iranian regime to cut off all access to the internet and developing strategies to circumvent internet blackouts.

• Require all new or modified satellite or direct-to-cell internet licenses granted by the FCC refrain from disabling or geo-blocking satellite or DTC coverage over the land territory of Iran, except where explicitly required by Federal law or other applicable regulations.

• Require the Secretary of State, acting through the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor to establish programs to provide cybersecurity training and commercially available digital safety tools to assist Iranians in circumventing the Iranian regime's repressive censorship tools.

• Authorize the appropriation of $15,000,000 per year for FY2027 and FY2028 to fund the aforementioned technologies in Iran, especially VPNs.

"The Iranian regime's recent nationwide internet blackout, imposed as tens of thousands of peaceful protesters were killed, underscores the urgent need for Congress to strengthen internet freedom tools for the Iranian people. The updated IRAN Act takes a critical step forward by expanding access to satellite, direct-to-cell, and other technologies that keep civilians connected when the regime attempts to silence them. PAAIA appreciates the bipartisan leadership behind this legislation and strongly supports its swift passage. Ensuring Iranians can remain online during moments of mass repression is essential to protecting human rights," said Morad Ghorban, Director of Government Relations & Policy, Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA).

IRAN Act is endorsed by - Public Affairs Associations of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), FDD Action, Lantern, Psiphon, and NetFreedom Pioneers.

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