Google email suspended in Iran

Feb 11, 2010

It is thought that a permanent suspension of Google's email services in Iran is intended to boost local development of internet technology and build trust between its people and the government.

A national email service is soon to be rolled out, according to the country's telecommunications agency.

It was not clear what effect the suspension has had on Gmail services in Iran although Google confirmed a sharp drop in traffic there.

"We have heard from users in Iran that they are having trouble accessing Gmail. We have looked at our own networks and found that they are working properly," said a Google spokesman. "Whenever we encounter blocks in our services we try to resolve them as quickly as possible."

An internet security expert based in Michigan has warned that the Iranian government could access email content if it forced a state-controlled service on its citizens. The primary purpose for the suspension of Google is to control communication and mine it, to crack down on dissenters and those who threaten the government, warned Richard Stiennon, founder of Internet security firm IT-Harvest.

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