PAAIA Celebrates the Inclusion of Internet Freedom Bills in the 2025 NDAA
Washington, DC — The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) is pleased to announce the inclusion of Section 5124, the Strategy and Grant Program to Promote Internet Freedom in Iran, in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This significant measure aligns closely with the language of the Iran Internet Freedom Act (S.5076) introduced by Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and James Lankford (R-OK), as well as the Internet Reach and Access Now (IRAN) Act (H.R.9299) introduced by Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-CA/14th) and Claudia Tenney (R-NY/24th).
Section 5124 aims to enhance internet freedom in Iran through the following initiatives:
- Strategy Development: The Secretary of State, in coordination with other agencies, will create a strategy to improve access to information for civil society in Iran.
- VPN Evaluation: The strategy will assess the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) in Iran and expand access to them.
- Internet Access Assessment: The level of internet access for Iranians not using VPNs will be evaluated, including issues like bandwidth, coverage, censorship, and surveillance.
- Circumvention of Internet Blackouts: Plans will be developed to counter internet blackouts and ensure continuous access to the open internet.
- Support for Technology Providers: The strategy will identify ways for companies providing technology to Iranians to overcome technical and political barriers.
- Grant Funding: The measure provides $30 million in grant funding to support internet access initiatives in Iran.
PAAIA helped spearhead efforts and has actively worked with lawmakers to prioritize internet freedom in Iran. Access to the open internet benefits political organizing, allows for the free flow of information and the exchange of ideas, and connects Iranians with each other and the outside world. The inclusion of Section 5124 in the NDAA reflects bipartisan support for combating digital authoritarianism and upholding the Iranian people’s right to free and open access to information.
Section 5124 of the NDAA shares several similarities with the Iran Internet Freedom Act and the IRAN Act. These measures emphasize the importance of supporting technology providers and ensuring continuous access to the open internet for Iranian civil society.
PAAIA commends Senators Cardin and Lankford, as well as Representatives Swalwell and Tenney, for their leadership and dedication to this issue. We remain committed to advocating for policies that support the Iranian people’s right to free and open access to information.
While momentum for internet freedom in Iran continues to grow, we need your help to ensure that this legislation becomes law. Contact your elected officials and encourage them to support internet freedom in Iran!
