Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Dave Min (D-CA), and Stephanie Bice (R-OK) introduced the Internet Reach and Access Now Act or 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. The government of Iran uses the internet as a tool of political repression and surveillance. But the people of Iran are standing up and demanding basic human rights, freedom, and democracy. Access to the open internet can be a tool for political organizing, the free exchange of ideas and a connection to the global community of democratic peoples. Promoting internet freedom in Iran is a critical element of supporting the Iranian people in their struggle for a peaceful and democratic Iran.
“Oppressive regimes fall when the illusion of their power breaks, and the people of Iran are ready to break through,” said Rep. Eric Swalwell. “Iranians want freedom, a mission I’ve always supported. That’s why I’m 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 Iranian people have shown extraordinary courage in demanding basic freedoms from a regime that fears open communication,” said Congresswoman Claudia Tenney. “Instead of listening, the regime responds with censorship, surveillance, and internet shutdowns meant to isolate people from one another and from the world. The IRAN Act requires the U.S. government to implement and periodically update its strategy to expand access to the open internet for Iranian civilians. It ensures our sanctions are not unintentionally blocking essential communication tools and directs the State Department to address VPN access and internet blackouts head-on. This legislation is about matching the courage of the Iranian people with real, sustained support.”
“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 Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari.
“There is nothing dictators fear more than an educated and connected people,” said Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar. “That is why the Ayatollah’s regime’s first instinct is always to shut down the internet, to silence the Iranian people’s cry for freedom. I am proud to co-lead the IRAN Act, because it creates a permanent strategy to keep Iranians connected, expand access to VPNs and satellite internet, and push back against regime censorship. From Iran to Cuba, access to information is the first step toward breaking the chains of tyranny.”
“Time and again, the Iranian people have shown extraordinary courage in standing up for their freedom. Authoritarian governments fear an open internet because it empowers truth and connection between people. The IRAN Act is a clear statement that the United States stands with the Iranian people in their struggle against this violent and repressive regime, and that we will use every tool available to keep them connected to each other and to the world,” said Congressman Dave Min.
“I am proud to co-lead the Internet Reach and Access Now (IRAN) Act to help ensure the Iranian people have access to a free and open internet. As the Iranian people are taking to the streets to protest their oppressive regime, now is the time to ensure they have access to free and secure internet. This legislation is an important step in supporting their fight for freedom and democratic change,” said Congresswoman Stephanie Bice.
“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).
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 regimes 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.
IRAN Act is endorsed by – Public Affairs Associations of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), FDD Action, Lantern, Psiphon, and NetFreedom Pioneers.
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