This bill is called the Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026. It directs U.S. agencies to expand and protect internet access for people in Iran, study technologies that can bypass censorship, and fund programs to help overcome internet shutdowns. The bill requires reports about Iranian oligarchs, state-linked companies, and possible economic links to U.S. sectors. It creates an "Iran Kleptocracy Initiative" inside FinCEN to track and help recover assets tied to Iranian officials and to coordinate investigations. The bill also requires the Defense Innovation Unit to support development of communications technologies and asks the President to respond to congressional requests about sanctioning foreign persons who supply censorship or surveillance tools. Finally, it expresses congressional support for U.S. and international broadcasting and assistance to independent Iranian journalists.
If enacted, the bill would direct U.S. departments and agencies to work on tools and programs that could help Iranians access uncensored internet and communicate during blackouts. It would fund pilot programs, prepare technical and risk reports, and increase reporting and enforcement efforts against wealthy individuals and entities tied to the Iranian state. The bill does not itself impose new criminal penalties; it sets requirements for reports, programs, and coordination among agencies.
The bill authorizes $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030 for the Iran Internet Freedom Grant Program. It also authorizes $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030 for the Defense Innovation Unit activities described. The bill requires multiple reports and ongoing activities but provides no other specific total cost estimates. No publicly available information on total expected federal costs beyond the authorizations listed.
The bill's findings and policy statements say it aims to support the Iranian people’s rights, expand unrestricted internet access, expose and disrupt corruption, enforce sanctions on human-rights violators, and coordinate with allies to deter violence against protesters. It calls for aiding independent Iranian journalists and boosting truthful external broadcasting to counter censorship.
No publicly available information.