To the Executive Leadership and Compliance Teams at Google,
I am writing this as a Full-Stack Developer with over 10 years of professional experience and 15 years of activity on the open web. I am not asking for charity; I am highlighting a critical flaw in your compliance strategy that contradicts the very values of the "Open Internet" you claim to champion.
The Reality on the Ground Currently, as a developer based in Iran, I can access OpenAI’s ChatGPT (Pro tier) and xAI’s Grok. I can utilize the most advanced LLMs in the world to code, learn, and build. These companies navigate US sanctions while maintaining access for civil society, likely leveraging OFAC General License D-2, which explicitly authorizes the export of services incident to the exchange of personal communications and information over the internet.
Google, however, stands alone in its aggressive exclusion. Despite the existence of General License D-2, Google employs a "scorched earth" policy towards Iranian users. Services that are fundamental to development—and clearly fall under the spirit of information freedom—are blocked. I am not talking about complex B2B payment gateways; I am referring to free, essential tools like Google Gemini, Android Developers documentation, and Firebase free tiers.
The Technical Paradox It is technically absurd that I can utilize the sophisticated infrastructure of OpenAI, yet I am blocked from accessing Google’s services due to aggressive "Deep Fingerprinting." Google seems to prioritize building a digital Berlin Wall around Iranian users over nuanced compliance. Your systems do not just block "government actors"; they aggressively hunt down and block individual developers, students, and tech enthusiasts.
You Are the Unintended Ally of Censorship By enforcing a blanket ban that goes far beyond what is legally required, Google is effectively acting as the enforcement arm of internet censorship in Iran. The local regime wants to isolate Iranian developers from the global community. By blocking our access to standard tools, you are helping them achieve that goal.
The Ask We are not asking you to break US law. We are asking you to:
Stop Over-Compliance: Align your geo-blocking policies with the permissiveness of OFAC General License D-2, just as your competitors have done.
Differentiate Users: Stop treating every IP address or browser fingerprint from Iran as a sanctioned entity.
Unlock Knowledge: At the very least, ensure that educational resources, documentation, and free-tier AI tools (Gemini) remain accessible to support the free flow of information.
Don't let corporate risk aversion turn Google into an accomplice in digital isolation.
Sincerely, A Developer who just wants to code.
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