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Coursera blocks access to students in Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria

blog.coursera.org

191–196 of 196 posts

Re: Coursera blocks access to students in Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria

#191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"...The biggest problem is doing it in a way that doesn't bring you to the attention of those doing the blocking...." I think this is a HUGE issue that should not be taken lightly. A guy scanning certain websites from Iran IS going to attract some attention no matter how benign his motives. It just won't be taken lightly. That attention can land you on lists you don't want to be on. I'm not saying that I don't sympat…

Having lived the first two decades of my life, and naturally had to circumvent network blocking, in Iran, I can tell you that's not how they work. Most of the blocking they do is targeted at the masses, and most people actually do circumvent it. People who circumvent their internet blocking facilities do not generally face persecution, as it's basically 100% of the internet users.

I was referring, mostly, to what American authorities would think of an Iranian IP address port scanning web servers. That will get the attention of American authorities... and not in a good way.

You just don't go port scanning and probing willy nilly in the US. That's DOUBLY true if you are port scanning and probing sites that the US government has blocked... AND you are doing it from inside Iran.

You're just BEGGING for Homeland Security to take a closer look at you. It's very foolish.

You may know your Government... but I know mine. I can tell you that an Iranian probing sites whose access from Iran is blocked by the American government for security reasons... that's not bright. Authorities here will not take kindly to it.

Re: Coursera blocks access to students in Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria

#192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly. گر حکم شود که مست گیرند در شهر هر آنکه هست گیرند Sorry, I couldn't help citing this particular piece of Persian poetry. Trust me, it's relevant.

"If they tell you to get drunk, everyone in the city is the boss"?

The literal translation would be something along the lines of "if they rule to arrest drunk people, they'd have to arrest everyone in the city."

Re: Coursera blocks access to students in Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria

#193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're clueless about what goes on in Cuba. Informers for the secret police are everywhere, nobody dares speak their mind in public. People are limited by a maximum wage. There are regular inspections of people traveling to ensure that they aren't sneaking illegal food, especially meat, around. And so on. It's as oppressive a totalitarian dictatorship as they come.

Unlike in the US, where the government doesn't spy on the citizens, everybody has free access to education, free universal healthcare, guaranteed housing and... oh wait.

Sounds fantastic. So how is it living in Cuba? When are you moving there?

Re: Coursera blocks access to students in Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria

#194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having lived the first two decades of my life, and naturally had to circumvent network blocking, in Iran, I can tell you that's not how they work. Most of the blocking they do is targeted at the masses, and most people actually do circumvent it. People who circumvent their internet blocking facilities do not generally face persecution, as it's basically 100% of the internet users.

I was referring, mostly, to what American authorities would think of an Iranian IP address port scanning web servers. That will get the attention of American authorities... and not in a good way. You just don't go port scanning and probing willy nilly in the US. That's DOUBLY true if you are port scanning and probing sites that the US government has blocked... AND you are doing it from inside Iran. You're just BEGGIN…

[deleted]

Re: Coursera blocks access to students in Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria

#195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unlike in the US, where the government doesn't spy on the citizens, everybody has free access to education, free universal healthcare, guaranteed housing and... oh wait.

Sounds fantastic. So how is it living in Cuba? When are you moving there?

Actually, other stuff came up, but after a first trip in 2003 I almost did. Got friends who went there to study and another friend who was exiled there as a political refugee.

Re: Coursera blocks access to students in Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria

#196
Why doesn't Coursera do what corporations that export far more dangerous goods than education do: Have a subsidiary in another country where export restrictions permit you to work with Cuba, Iran, Syria and Sudan.

To not try to counteract this political manipulation is almost more outrageous than the political manipulation itself.

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