Improved coordination of efforts to promote internet freedom in Iran

(a) Duties of the Secretary of State The Secretary of State shall be the Federal official with the primary responsibility for— (1) promoting widespread internet freedom in Iran and expanding access to information for Iranian citizens; (2) coordinating all efforts carried out by Federal departments and agencies that relate to digital freedom initiatives in Iran; and (3) serving as the principal official responsible for updating and carrying out the strategy required under section 414 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8754). (b) Updates to comprehensive strategy To promote internet freedom and access to information in Iran (1) Updates Section 414 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8754) is amended— (A) by striking Not later than and inserting (A) Initial strategy.—Not later than; (B) by redesignating paragraphs (11) and (12) as paragraphs (14) and (15), respectively; (C) by inserting after paragraph (10) the following new paragraphs: (11) evaluate the use of virtual private networks and direct-to-cell satellite technologies by civil society and internationally recognized human rights activists in Iran and develop strategies for increasing the accessibility of such networks and technologies; (12) work with the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Commerce to ensure enforcement of sanctions does not impede companies providing to Iranian civilians the technology and other tools necessary to access the open internet; (13) assess the ability of the Iranian regime to cut off all access to the internet and develop a strategy to circumvent internet blackouts for Iranian civil society;; and (D) by adding at the end of the following new subsection: (b) Updates The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies as appropriate, shall review the strategy under subsection (a) on an ongoing basis and update the strategy as appropriate, taking into account the results of such review.. (2) Submission of first updates (A) Submission Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall— (i) review and update the strategy pursuant to section 414(b) of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8754), as added by paragraph (1); and (ii) submit such updated strategy to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. (B) Form The strategy under subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.