Senate Approves Funds To Thwart Iranian E-Censorship

Washington, DC (AHN) – The Senate unanimously approved an amendment to the National Defense Reauthorization Act aimed at thwarting the Iranian government’s electronic censorship efforts.

A main focus of the bill is to require President Barack Obama to create a report on all non-Iranian companies that have helped the Iranian government censor citizens during the aftermath of the country’s disputed presidential elections.

The amendment, which authorizes about $60 million in spending, is sponsored by Senators John McCain, R-AZ, Joseph Lieberman, ID-CT, Ted Kaufman, D-DE, Linsey Graham, R-SC and Robert Casey, D-PA.

The amendment also calls for the expansion of news read in Farsi by Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty’s Radio Farda and the Voice of America’s Persian News Network.

Money for the bill could also be used to develop additional transmission capability to counter Iran’s efforts to jam radio, satellite and Internet-based transmissions, according to a press release from McCain’s office.

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