Over the past months, widespread internet blackouts have made it nearly impossible for people in Iran to contact loved ones abroad, access independent news, or share what’s happening on the ground. These blackouts are not just technical disruptions — they are acts of censorship that endanger lives and suppress the truth.

Now, more than ever, we need Congress to act.

The Internet Reach and Access Now (IRAN) Act and the Iran Internet Freedom Act are bipartisan bills designed to protect internet freedom in Iran. They require the Secretary of State to create and update a strategy to fight censorship by:

• Funding and expanding access to VPNs, satellite technology, and secure internet tools,
• Supporting human rights defenders and civil society groups working around Iran’s digital firewalls,
• Monitoring the regime’s blackout capabilities and building tools to overcome them.

These bills also authorize critical funding to the Open Technology Fund, which directly supports tools that help people in Iran connect safely and reliably.

This is not just a policy issue. It’s deeply personal for our community.

PAAIA’s 2024 National Public Opinion Survey found that nearly half of Iranian Americans have immediate family living in Iran — and nearly as many speak with them several times a week, primarily through internet-based platforms. These human connections are being severed by this digital repression.

We’ve mobilized thousands across the country, met with lawmakers, and brought leading experts to the table. To get this legislation reintroduced as soon as possible, we need your voice!

Please, act now and support internet freedom in Iran!