The Treasury Department issued “Iran General License (GL) D-2 to increase support for internet freedom in Iran… the updated guidance will authorise technology companies to offer the Iranian people with more options of secure, outside platforms and services”. The State Department, noting that “these steps will help counter the Iranian government's efforts to surveil and censor its citizens”, asserted: “We are taking this step against a stark backdrop. The Iranian government has cut off access to the Internet for most of its 80 million citizens to prevent them — and the world — from watching its violent crackdown on peaceful protestors... In the face of these steps, we are going to help make sure the Iranian people are not kept isolated and in the dark”.