United Call for Action: Support Internet Freedom Legislation for the People of Iran
November 10, 2024 — A coalition of organizations led by the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) has submitted two letters to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee urging strong support for the Internet Reach and Access Now (IRAN) Act (H.R.9299) and the Iran Internet Freedom Act (S.5076). Both bills have been designed to enhance internet freedom for the people of Iran amid increasing censorship and surveillance by the Islamic Republic’s state security agencies.
“The Iranian people have shown extraordinary courage in their fight for freedom and justice, yet their voices are being silenced by a state determined to cut them off from the world,” said CHRI Executive Director Hadi Ghaemi.
“Access to a free and open internet is not a luxury—it is a lifeline for civil society to document abuses, mobilize for change, and connect with the global community,” he said. “Supporting this legislation is not just about technology; it is about standing with the people of Iran in their pursuit of fundamental human rights.”
The IRAN Act, introduced by Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Claudia Tenney (R-NY), and the Iran Internet Freedom Act, introduced by Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and James Lankford (R-OK), represent bipartisan efforts to ensure internet freedom in Iran.
These bills share common goals, including comprehensive strategies to support internet freedom, guidance for technology companies, enhancement of virtual private network (VPN) and satellite accessibility, and measures to circumvent internet blackouts imposed by the Iranian regime. However, the Senate version also authorizes over $30 million in Open Technology Fund grants to support reliable and secure internet service in Iran.
The coalition’s letters call on the committees to prioritize advancing these bills through markup, underscoring the internet’s critical role in enabling civil society to document human rights abuses, organize for change, and amplify the voices of those silenced by oppression.
The letters received backing from a diverse array of organizations including the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), Freedom House, Iranian American Democrats of California, and the National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFDI). Notably, Lantern and Psiphon, two of the largest VPN service providers for Iranian civil society, also signed on, underscoring the practical importance of secure online access for activists and everyday citizens in Iran.
These organizations emphasize that the advancement of these legislative efforts is a significant step towards supporting the Iranian people’s quest for human rights and democracy, reaffirming the importance of open internet access in a connected global community.
