U.S. senators promote digital freedom for Iran while backing surveillance at home
A bipartisan group of senators, including Lindsey Graham, James Lankford, Jacky Rosen and Cory Booker, is backing federal funding to help Iranians bypass government censorship using VPNs and encryption tools.
Supporters say the initiative would promote internet freedom abroad by enabling people in restrictive regimes to access uncensored information and communicate securely.
Critics argue that several of the senators have supported expansive surveillance authorities and online content regulations within the United States, raising concerns about inconsistent standards on digital privacy.
Public voting records show Graham backed the USA PATRIOT Act, Section 702 reauthorization and encryption-related bills such as the EARN IT Act, while Lankford opposed warrant requirements in the 2020 USA Freedom Reauthorization Act and supported measures like the Kids Online Safety Act.
Rosen has supported legislation aimed at combating online harms, including the TAKE IT DOWN Act, though digital rights groups warn some proposals could expand government influence over online speech and incentivize aggressive content moderation.
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