Strategy to ensure sanctions do not impede internet freedom for the people of Iran

(a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall develop and submit to Congress a strategy to ensure that sanctions imposed on the regime in Iran do not inadvertently prevent Iranian civilians from accessing technology and tools necessary for internet freedom and open communication. (b) Elements The strategy required under subsection (a) shall include— (1) An examination of existing sanctions and their impact on the availability of internet freedom tools for the people of Iran, including— (A) an assessment of any unintended restrictions that limit access to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), secure messaging applications, satellite communication technology, cloud-based services, and other tools necessary for circumventing government censorship; and (B) an analysis of how sanctions may affect the ability of technology companies and non-governmental organizations to provide services and support to the Iranian people without materially benefiting the regime. (2) The issuance of specific licenses and waivers that facilitate internet freedom in Iran while ensuring that such measures do not enable or provide financial benefit to the regime, including— (A) the development of clear guidelines for private sector entities on how they can provide internet-related services to Iranian civilians without violating U.S. sanctions; (B) a streamlined process for approving waivers and licenses that support internet access and digital communication tools for the Iranian people; and (C) measures to prevent the misuse of such licenses and waivers by entities affiliated with the Iranian government or Iranian judiciary or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), or other affiliated of the Iranian government including a regular review process to ensure that waivers are not being misused by regime-aligned groups. (3) A plan to work with technology companies, civil society organizations, and international partners to expand access to censorship-resistant communication technologies in Iran, including— (A) identifying key stakeholders capable of providing secure and effective internet access solutions; (B) ensuring companies seeking to provide such services are properly vetted to prevent inadvertent assistance to the Iranian regime; and (C) enhancing public awareness campaigns within Iran about the availability of secure internet access tools. (4) A detailed mechanism for continuously monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of these measures, including— (A) regular reporting to Congress on the impact of licenses and waivers issued to facilitate internet freedom in Iran; (B) recommendations for further actions to improve access to open and secure communication technologies; and (C) an evaluation of the Iranian regime’s attempts to counteract these measures and strategies to mitigate such efforts. (c) Form The strategy required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form. (d) Implementation plan Not later than 60 days after the date on which the strategy required by subsection (a) is developed, the task force shall submit to Congress a plan for implementing the strategy.