US lifts sanctions on IT exports to Cuba, Iran and Sudan

10 Mar 2010

The United States treasury department said on Monday, 8 March 2010, that it will ease sanctions on the export of information technology goods to Cuba, Iran and Sudan to allow the export of web services that facilitate the flow of information and promote freedom of speech.

US technology firms will be allowed to export services related to web browsing, blogging, email, instant messaging, chat, social networking and photo- and movie-sharing. Deputy treasury secretary Neal Wolin mentioned recent events in Iran - where opposition supporters have used social networking sites and services to organise protests - as an example of how personal internet-based communications are powerful tools for the free flow of information, which he described as "a basic human right".

Meanwhile, the BBC World Service published on Monday the results of a poll that found that almost four in five people across the 26 countries surveyed believe that access to the internet is a fundamental right.

Source: Panos London

Panos London promotes the participation of poor and marginalised people in national and international development debates through media and communication projects. It is part of the worldwide Panos Network of independent institutes working to ensure that information is used more effectively to foster debate, pluralism and democracy.

Go to: http://www.panos.org.uk