Iran announced it will ban the use of Google e-mail services, better known as GMAIL, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. According to the report the Iranian government says the new policy is not intended to limit access to social networking sites, instead it’s designed to encourage use of a new national email service. Iran was criticized heavily by the international community for violently suppressing protests after its controversial presidential election last June.
It hasn’t been confirmed by Google or anyone else whether or not Iran has implemented the ban. Iran made the announcement on the eve of the 31st anniversary of its Islamic Revolution, and a day after it announced it will begin enriching uranium at 20 percent — bringing it closer to the 90 percent enrichment level need to make a nuclear weapon. State Department spokesman PJ Crowley responded to the GMAIL announcement Wednesday with this statement:
“While information technologies are enabling people around the world to communicate like never before, the Iranian government seems determined to deny its citizens access to information, the ability to express themselves freely, network and share ideas. Virtual walls won’t work in the 21st century any better than physical walls worked in the 20th century. The Iranian people are dynamic and determined and will find a way to overcome the obstacles the Iranian government puts in their way.”