U.S. Senators: Champions Abroad, Spies at Home?

Senators champion internet freedom for Iranians suffering under an oppressive regime while their domestic voting records reveal expansion of surveillance powers that threaten Americans’ constitutional right to privacy.

Story Snapshot

Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced the FREEDOM Act requiring assessment of direct-to-cell and satellite technologies to bypass Iranian regime’s internet blackouts
Bipartisan bill sponsored by Senators Rosen and McCormick positions internet freedom as national security priority following January 2026 total digital blackout during Iranian protests
Previous Iran Internet Freedom Act authorized $15 million annually, but funding cuts closed NGOs providing VPN access to Iranian citizens
Research shows no evidence senators addressed domestic surveillance concerns despite championing digital freedom abroad

Bipartisan Push for Iranian Internet Access Technology

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced the FREEDOM Act in February 2026, requiring the State Department, FCC, and Treasury to assess emerging direct-to-cell wireless and low-Earth-orbit satellite technologies for Iran within 120 days. Senators Jacky Rosen and Dave McCormick introduced the legislation on December 4, 2025, responding to the Iranian regime’s complete internet blackout on January 8, 2026, which prevented protesters from sharing information during nationwide demonstrations. The bill mandates evaluation of jamming resistance capabilities, per-user costs, and technology improvements beyond traditional VPN tools previously funded by U.S. programs.

Crisis Response to Regime Digital Blackouts

The Iranian regime imposed near-total digital blackouts during the 2025 Iran-Israel conflict and early 2026 protests, shutting down mobile networks and throttling bandwidth to maintain information control. Only limited numbers of Iranians remained online through U.S.-supported VPNs and circumvention tools, which proved critical for exposing regime disinformation and documenting government actions. Senators Lankford, Rosen, Graham, and Booker sent a January 28, 2026 letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging a surge in internet freedom resources, warning that without U.S. leadership, “an entire generation of Iranians would have remained in the dark.”

The legislation builds on over two decades of bipartisan internet freedom programs including the Near East Regional Democracy program and Open Technology Fund. Congress previously authorized $15 million annually for the Open Technology Fund through the Iran Internet Freedom Act for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. However, funding cuts forced many NGOs and technology providers maintaining circumvention tools to close operations, significantly reducing the number of Iranian citizens able to securely access information and communicate. This gap in support occurred precisely when Iranian protesters needed digital tools most during widespread demonstrations against the authoritarian regime.

Technology Assessment Requirements and Strategic Goals

The FREEDOM Act requires a comprehensive federal report evaluating direct-to-cell wireless communications technology feasibility and analyzing LEO satellite internet constellation systems’ effectiveness during January 2026 Iranian protests. The assessment must include jamming resistance capabilities crucial for maintaining connectivity when the regime attempts technological countermeasures. The legislation reflects recognition that internet freedom requires technical, regulatory, and security expertise coordinated across multiple federal agencies. Senator McCormick stated the initiative aims to “expand access to information and free expression beyond the reach of government censorship, giving the people of Iran the tools they need to communicate freely.”

The bipartisan strategy pairs maximum pressure on the regime with maximum support for the Iranian people, potentially strengthening U.S. influence among what senators describe as “the largest pro-American population in the Muslim Middle East.” If direct-to-cell and LEO satellite technologies prove feasible, Iranians could access internet independent of regime-controlled infrastructure, fundamentally changing the information landscape. The legislation positions these emerging technologies as evolutionary steps beyond traditional circumvention tools, establishing potential precedent for supporting digital freedom in other authoritarian contexts. This approach connects internet freedom to counterterrorism, regional stability, and pressure on the Iranian regime’s nuclear and missile programs.

Missing Domestic Privacy Safeguards Raise Questions

While senators champion digital freedom for Iranians facing oppressive surveillance, the provided research contains no evidence these same legislators addressed expanding domestic surveillance powers threatening Americans’ Fourth Amendment protections. The research reveals a critical gap: no discussion of potential opposition, alternative viewpoints, or consideration of how technologies assessed for Iran might impact U.S. citizens’ privacy rights. The involvement of Treasury, FCC, and State Department in technology assessment raises legitimate questions about dual-use capabilities and whether tools designed to circumvent foreign censorship could enable government overreach at home. Americans rightfully expect consistency: if internet freedom and privacy matter for Iranians, constitutional protections against warrantless surveillance should receive equal congressional commitment domestically.