Nonviolent revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt have demonstrated the unprecedented power of online communications for organizing against repressive governments. Despite previous revisions to the law, sanctions have imposed a chilling effect on independent media and civic activism in Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria. Communities are silenced when they are denied access to services such as antivirus software, webhosting and private Internet connections.
To protect the free flow of information to the citizens of sanctioned countries, the Departments of Commerce and Treasure must reevaluate export controls to ensure that they unambiguously protect freedom of access to information, including exemptions to allow commercial software and services necessary for online communications and personal security.