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

blog.coursera.org

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

#21

Post by johnhess »

sentenza wrote: post #19
kfk wrote: post #18

A startup in Europe should create a free proxy to use Coursera for these guys living in those unfortunate countries. Berlin, London, Munich, etc. anything?

So that startup can have their Paypal account frozen? No thank you. Probably the best way is to create a Coursera competitor.

That's tough. Not because the software isn't out there (see open edX), but because of the content. The big attraction is that this is content from premier universities. If you open Coursentenza, how could students (or employers/colleges) down the road assess the quality of the education you offer?

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

#22

Post by johnhess »

What's really chilling about this is:

>Federal regulations prohibit U.S. businesses from offering services to countries subject to economic sanctions -- a list that includes Cuba, Iran, Syria and Sudan

On this message board, I can imagine that "U.S. businesses" includes a substantial number of us. You're all blocking those IPs, right?

The State Dept. set a dangerous precedent when it didn't immediately respond to edX and Coursera with an "Of course a web application filled with educational content doesn't constitute doing business with the enemy."

It leaves those of us without a legal team in a real pinch.

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

#23

Post by slazaro »

rikacomet wrote: post #2

This is ridiculous! What is the use of being the premier institute in the world, and do just about nothing about such a obvious immorality!? The kids in these countries are already suffering under oppression/war/famine/ you name it.. things you won't want upon yourself, much less on your kids.I know a guy who plays a rpg with me who is from Syria, he is 14 year old, and his school is defunct. Just few months back I r…

> The kids in these countries are already suffering under oppression/war/famine/ you name it..

Just a nitpick. Maybe in the other three countries this is true, but Cuba is pretty well off in those respects. Especially education wise.

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

#24

Post by rdl »

It would be nice if there were a safe harbor for open source/educational/non-dual-use materials even to individuals in a sanction-restricted regime.

I doubt the Government of Cuba (the true target of the sanctions) would get material benefit from free courses for their populace. Certainly only the most indirect and limited military benefit.

Unfortunately, as far as I'm aware, the treasury and state restrictions aren't so specific. IANAL though, particularly not an export-compliance lawyer.

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

#25

Post by bromagosa »

f_salmon wrote: post #6

If first World countries can do 1 evil, it's suppressing/eliminating education for the oppressed and/or poor. (So they have no chance for future equality and can continue to be dominated by us.)

Except that Cuba is not an uneducated country... the other way around actually, with universal and completely free access to university.

By the way, unlike Coursera, they even offer free college education to other third-world countries. Something to think about.

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

#26

Post by bprieto »

slazaro wrote: post #23
rikacomet wrote: post #2

This is ridiculous! What is the use of being the premier institute in the world, and do just about nothing about such a obvious immorality!? The kids in these countries are already suffering under oppression/war/famine/ you name it.. things you won't want upon yourself, much less on your kids.I know a guy who plays a rpg with me who is from Syria, he is 14 year old, and his school is defunct. Just few months back I r…

> The kids in these countries are already suffering under oppression/war/famine/ you name it.. Just a nitpick. Maybe in the other three countries this is true, but Cuba is pretty well off in those respects. Especially education wise.

Cuba is not well off in (lack of) oppression.

Not at war right now, and not suffering famine, but also right now there isn't war or famine in Iran.

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

#27

Post by louhike »

slazaro wrote: post #23
rikacomet wrote: post #2

This is ridiculous! What is the use of being the premier institute in the world, and do just about nothing about such a obvious immorality!? The kids in these countries are already suffering under oppression/war/famine/ you name it.. things you won't want upon yourself, much less on your kids.I know a guy who plays a rpg with me who is from Syria, he is 14 year old, and his school is defunct. Just few months back I r…

> The kids in these countries are already suffering under oppression/war/famine/ you name it.. Just a nitpick. Maybe in the other three countries this is true, but Cuba is pretty well off in those respects. Especially education wise.

Iran is in a good situation also, and I think Syria was ok before the war. The problem was the oppression mostly. I've met several students from upthere. They complained about the lack of freedom but they did not about lack of education, war or famine. They were even pretty well educated.
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