Google plonks downloads on Iran after US lifts sanctions
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Google is bringing software downloads of some of its products to Iran, after the US government relaxed export restrictions in the country.
The world's largest ad broker confirmed in a blog post yesterday that its Google Earth, Picasa and Chrome browser products could all now be installed in Iran.
But the company said it would continue to adhere to Washington's "strict" export policy in that country, where in June 2009 Google bigged up its subversive credentials by offering a Farsi translation tool.
That was the same week that Twitter was credited with potentially powering a people's revolution in Iran, which it didn't.
Google stuck to similar rhetoric on Tuesday, but having agreed to an export licences deal with the US Treasury Department, the company briefly added that it would "continue to block IP addresses associated with the Iranian government".
The Mountain View Chocolate Factory followed its commitment-to-sanctions message with more sugar-coating about "choice", "freedom" and "power" for Iranians, the world, and - perhaps most importantly - Google. ®
COMMENTS
NFTN
I get a fair number of downloads from Iran. Even if I wanted to block them, it would be difficult. Many come from small blocks of IP addresses that were initially assigned elsewhere (the US, mainly). It's not just Iran - I've seen this for countries all over Asia.
Why be that complicated.
If you are a government type who isn't authorized to download the software from work, you sign up from home for AliNet which is allowed to download it. Copy it off to the government purchased external hard drive, and install it at work. No fuss, no muss.
Yeah, while I appreciate the intention of some of our laws, a logical examination of the way they are implemented does frequently make me want to pick up a gun and shoot them in the head. And then reason breaks through again and reminds me such an action would have no effect on their brain as they obviously don't have one..
Is This Satire ?
Surely the bearded guys can obtain TOR somewhere and then appear as if they are Inuits from Greenland. Or gun-toting Alaskans. Most often they will look like Swede from Querswordgongburg (or another name I can't remember).
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