Dear John,
This week the U.S. Treasury Department [[link removed]] took a promising step by publishing additional [[link removed]] guidance [[link removed]] to allow export of vital communications tools to the people of Iran. This follows the Biden administration’s move in September to publish General License D-2 to ensure sanctions do not inadvertently help the Islamic Republic’s suppression of internet freedom in Iran.
Since the protests began, Iranian authorities have severely restricted internet access and systematically targeted protestors via their online activity. The publication of additional guidance is an important move to encourage tech companies to allow Iranians to access their services in spite of sanctions. To learn more about this, I encourage you to read our full statement here [[link removed]] .
NIAC has long advocated for and helped secure steps to ensure that sanctions do not make it even more difficult for the Iranian people to communicate freely online and navigate around government spying and censorship, including in direct advocacy [[link removed]] with the Biden administration. There is now a clear license and guidance, but tech companies have regrettably been slow to take advantage and restore services for the people of Iran. Their inaction makes it even harder for Iranians to access critical technology that would greatly benefit them right now.
Now, one of the most tangible ways we can support the Iranian people is to urge American tech giants like Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and others to take advantage of the opening the Biden administration is giving them and restore critical services to the Iranian people. Sign our petition now [[link removed]] to amplify this call.
Sign Petition [[link removed]]
No government should interfere with their people’s ability to communicate freely online and with our advocacy efforts we're driving tangible policy that will make a difference on the ground in Iran. Together, we must use our collective voices to demand tech companies help Iranian protestors communicate safely and without fear of government surveillance.
Thank you for standing with us.
Jamal Abdi President, NIAC
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