US Eases Internet Export Rules To Iran, Sudan, Cuba

coondoggie writes "Looking to facilitate what it calls free speech rights in countries that don't look favorably at such liberties, the US government today said it would ease the regulations around exporting Internet-based applications to Iran, Sudan and Cuba. Specifically, the Treasury Department said it would add general licenses (PDF) authorizing the exportation of free, personal, Internet-based communications services – such as instant messaging, chat and email, and social networking – to those three countries. The amendments also allow the exportation of related software to Iran and Sudan, the department said in a release (the US Commerce Department controls software exports with Cuba). Until now all such exports would have broken federal laws."

Comments

Re:Eh?

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

We have a strict policy of saying unkind things about any dictators who we didn't install personally(and a few who haven't been passing their performance reviews since we did)...

There's no one easier to invade

[presidenteloco]

Than a country full of sedentary layabouts twittering to each other like chickadees
about the price of spice
and admiring their own portraits on facebook.

What about instrumental piano CDs?

[MichaelCrawford]

For several years now I've been giving away free copies of my piano CD. I have received several requests from residents of Iran, and I would like very much to send them, but I haven't wanted to even try to figure out how to get approval from the Bureau of Export Administration.

It's not like my music is some kind of weapon.

You'd think that following the rules would just be a matter of looking up which countries are embargoed, but it's not that simple. In many cases it's not the country that's embargoed, it's specific individuals or organizations - in the case of Iran, it's the Revolutionary Guard, among others.

I'm pretty sure there's a procedure by which I could get a license, and I would be happy to go to all the trouble and expense that would be required. What I'm not looking forward to though is if and when I do get the required licenses, having to explain to the clerk at my post office that I have the permission of the Feral Gummint to mail my music to Persia.

Nothing better than trade

[drumcat]

Folks, nothing could be better than trading with your enemies. It has worked for millennia, and will continue to do so. Trade Iran's government into a needy, third-world leech. It's better than a war. Their people are magnificent, intelligent, and just like us in many cases. Hell, they even get all ideological, like Joel O'Steen and such. Let's trade some curry and hookahs for blue jeans, and call off the war, k?

Re:Nothing better than trade

[corbettw]

Considering how hot every single Persian chick I've ever met is, I fully support the idea of peaceful, loving relations with Iran, as often as possible.

When will they learn?

[Darkness404]

When will the government learn that about the only way people continue to be oppressed through governments is poverty, lack of information, and brainwashing. By allowing citizens of countries with oppressive governments to be opened to art, music, literature, communication and visitors from the "free" world, it will inspire citizens to rebel. Selfishness is a virtue, it helps keep a sane government if there is at least some communication with the outside world. If we would flood Cuba with American tourists, artists, musicians, and brought them computers, cell phones, etc. chances are the dictatorship would fall (mostly because Cuba is well within travel distance from the US, and while some other "free" countries allow travel/etc to Cuba like Canada, they lack the -very- close distance).

Re:Eh?

[trurl7]

You're talking about government. The US government in particular. The day they change the law because they "realize it's stupid", pigs will fly in line abreast over the Capitol.

The only time the law changes is when there is an advantage for those in power to do so (e.g. more money, more power, avoiding a nation-wide civil revolt, etc..) The question, as always, is "qui bono"?

Re:privacy?

[Pojut]

Yup...just like ours.

Re:The very definition of irony

[techno-vampire]

We spent years preparing for a war that was plainly just never going to happen with the USSR, because the fucking idiots in charge on both sides were so afraid that the other one was planning to come after them.

Written with 20/20 hindsight. I lived through that era and I can assure you that it wasn't that clear at the time. There were many points (e.g., during the Cuban Missile Crisis) when it looked like somebody was going to push The Button any day now. In one sense, MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) worked: the Soviets were just as afraid that we were going to attack them as we were of a Soviet attack with the result that both sides did what they could to keep tensions below the flash-point.