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    Google Opens Up Downloads To Iran But Blocks Iranian Government

    Google announced that after years of not allowing those in Iran to download their software, Google has opened up downloads of their Google Earth, Picasa and Chrome applications. Now if you are in Iran you will be able to download Google Earth, Picasa and Chrome to your computer. Google explained that the U.S. export controls […]

    Google IranGoogle announced that after years of not allowing those in Iran to download their software, Google has opened up downloads of their Google Earth, Picasa and Chrome applications.

    Now if you are in Iran you will be able to download Google Earth, Picasa and Chrome to your computer.

    Google explained that the U.S. export controls and sanctions programs prohibited software downloads to Iran. But Google said some of the “export restrictions have now been lifted” and they can now enable some Iranians to download these applications. For now, Google is just opening up those three products and might open up others for download in Iran.

    Google did make a point to say they “will continue to block IP addresses associated with the Iranian government.” Of course many Iranian officials will get around that, if they want.

    The LA Times reports that Google is still restricting access to their other products in Iran, including AdSense, AdWords and Google Checkout. In addition, Google restricts all downloads in Cuba, North Korea, Sudan and Syria.

    More details and coverage can be found on Techmeme.


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    About the Author

    Barry Schwartz
    Barry Schwartz is a technologist and a Contributing Editor to Search Engine Land and a member of the programming team for SMX events. He owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics.

    In 2019, Barry was awarded the Outstanding Community Services Award from Search Engine Land, in 2018 he was awarded the US Search Awards the "US Search Personality Of The Year," you can learn more over here and in 2023 he was listed as a top 50 most influential PPCer by Marketing O'Clock.

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