Iran blocks access to Google

[zett]

TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran has blocked access to the Google search engine and its Gmail email service as part of a clampdown on material deemed to be offensive, the Mehr news agency reported on Monday.

[news.yahoo.com...]

[goodroi]

Its sad when my first (albeit brief) reaction to this story is whether Iran is protecting their citizens privacy or trying to restrict freedom of information.

[shorebreak]

That's strange, because on another forum (#*$!) an advertiser advertising in Iran (from outside Iran) got an email from Google saying *Google* has made the decision to no longer show AdWords ads in Iran which are geotargeted by advertisers from *outside* Iran. Here's what Google responded to the advertiser who asked the question:

""Thank you for your email. I understand your concern that you are not able to target Iran as one of your targeting countries while setting up a new campaign. This is because Google routinely reviews its policies regarding advertising, including its policies regarding the geographical targeting of ads. Based on our most recent review of these policies and consistent with the Terms and Conditions of our AdWords service, we have decided to no longer offer geographical targeting of ads to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria."

So who's calling the shots on this change, Google or the Iranian govt?

-Shorebreak