H.R. 2614: Maximum Support Act

This bill, known as the Maximum Support Act, aims to establish a comprehensive strategy to support internet freedom and assist the Iranian people in their pursuit of a democratic society. It emphasizes a robust response to government censorship in Iran and outlines a series of initiatives and strategies designed to promote human rights and establish a new political system. Here are the key provisions of the bill:

Policy Statements

The United States aims to provide maximum support for the people of Iran in their desire to establish a political system based on democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Program and Strategy for Internet Freedom

• Task Force Creation: Within 180 days of enactment, a new interagency task force, led by the Secretary of State and other officials, will be established to enhance internet freedom in Iran.
• VPN Services: The strategy will include creating a Virtual Private Network (VPN) designed to help Iranian users avoid governmental censorship and access the internet freely.
• Satellite Communications: It will promote enhanced satellite communications and the distribution of eSIM devices to facilitate secure internet access.
• Device Restrictions: The strategy will analyze regime restrictions on cell phones and outline measures to counteract these limitations.
• Cybersecurity Training: Programs will be set up to train Iranian activists and journalists on identifying cyber threats and protecting their digital security.

Confiscation of Assets

The bill allows the President to confiscate assets belonging to the Iranian government and use those funds to support movements within Iran seeking democratic governance and to provide humanitarian assistance.

Sanction Strategies

A strategy will be developed to ensure that U.S. sanctions do not inadvertently limit access to internet freedom tools for Iranian civilians. This will involve:

• Assessing existing sanctions and their impacts on internet access.
• Issuing licenses and waivers to promote internet access while preventing regime benefits.
• Collaborating with technology companies to enhance access to secure communication technologies.

Support for Political Change

A detailed strategy will be formulated to support Iranian efforts to create a new government democracy and establish human rights protections. This includes:

• Diplomatic Efforts: Using diplomatic channels to support Iranian protests for democracy.
• Economic Pressure: Enforcing sanctions against Iran to undermine oppressive activities.
• Intelligence Support: Utilizing intelligence capabilities to support civic actions and counter misinformation.
• Media Freedom: Expanding broadcasts to provide accurate news to Iranians.

Designation of Terrorist Organization

The bill proposes designating Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security as a foreign terrorist organization, which would allow for enhanced legal actions against its operations and affiliates.

Encouragement of Defections

A strategy to promote defections from the Iranian government will be established, which will include:

• Creating secure communication channels for potential defectors.
• Providing support and safety for defectors.
• Ensuring international cooperation for protecting defectors.

Cybersecurity Assistance

There will be a dedicated program to assist Iranian dissidents and organizations in countering cyber threats posed by the Iranian regime, which will include:

• Providing specialized cybersecurity tools and training.
• Offering rapid response assistance in the event of cyber attacks.

Implementation and Reporting

All strategies developed by the task force will be reported to Congress in unclassified form and will include details on implementation plans.

Relevant Companies

• AAPL (Apple Inc.): May be impacted due to restrictions on iPhone models which are critical for internet accessibility in Iran.
• GOOG (Alphabet Inc.): Could be affected as their services may be used in attempts to bypass Iranian censorship.
• AMZN (Amazon.com): Might be involved in providing services that could be utilized to support internet freedom efforts in Iran.