Datamation Logo

Iran Restores Gmail, Google Search Access

October 1, 2012
Datamation content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

One week after blocking its residents from many Google services, Iran is again permitting access to Gmail and the HTTPS version of Google search. YouTube remains inaccessible within the country as Google has not removed the controversial video that sparked the ban in the first place.

The AFP reported, “Mohammad Reza Miri, a member of the telecommunications ministry committee tasked with filtering the Internet in Iran, was quoted on Monday by the Mehr news agency as saying the Gmail block was an ‘involuntary’ consequence of trying to reinforce censorship of Google’s YouTube video-sharing site. ‘Unfortunately, we do not yet have enough technical knowhow to differentiate between these two services. We wanted to block YouTube and Gmail was also blocked, which was involuntary,’ he said.”

“Intentional or not, the blocking of Gmail had prompted official complaints,” noted The Telegraph. “One legislator, Hossein Garousi, threatened to summon Telecommunications Minister Reza Taqipour to parliament for questioning if it was not unblocked.”

Many Iranians had reportedly already found ways around the ban. “This weekend, an Iranian tech newspaper, Asr-e Ertebat, estimated that if half of Iran’s Internet-using population was using a VPN as a way to circumvent the so-called ‘Filternet,’ local VPN firms were taking in approximately $3.7 million in revenue per month,” wrote Ars Technica’s Cyrus Farivar.

According to the AP, “Iran has an estimated 32 million Internet users out of a total population of around 75 million.”

  SEE ALL
ARTICLES
 

Subscribe to Data Insider

Learn the latest news and best practices about data science, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, data security, and more.

Datamation Logo

Datamation is the leading industry resource for B2B data professionals and technology buyers. Datamation's focus is on providing insight into the latest trends and innovation in AI, data security, big data, and more, along with in-depth product recommendations and comparisons. More than 1.7M users gain insight and guidance from Datamation every year.

Advertisers

Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on Datamation and our other data and technology-focused platforms.

Advertise with Us

Our Brands


Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions About Contact Advertise California - Do Not Sell My Information

Property of TechnologyAdvice.
© 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.