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SourceForge blocks Iran, North Korea, Syria, Sudan and Cuba
That isn't the beginning of the story though: back in 2008 the same countries were allowed to surf SourceForge, but not interact with the source code repositories -- they could download, but couldn't contribute. Now it seems the access block is complete -- if you live in Iran, North Korea, Syria, Sudan or Cuba, you simply can't access SourceForge.
ArabCrunch (seemingly not affiliated with its uglier forebear TechCrunch) goes on to share some details on the definition of open source and what it actually means to be 'open'. As defined by the Open Source Initiative (OSI):
At the end of the day, open source ideology be damned, is SourceForge going to argue with the U.S. State Department if they're told to block 'rogue nations'?5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups
The license must not discriminate against any person or group of persons.
6. No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor
The license must not restrict anyone from making use of the program in a specific field of endeavor. For example, it may not restrict the program from being used in a business, or from being used for genetic research.
It's a tricky subject: should these five countries be persecuted because of the extreme actions enacted by a tiny percentage of their population? Open source software provides a vital building block for these oppressed and developing nations -- I hope the U.S. government can see the potential damage to new infrastructure and fledgling business this might cause.
Update 25th January 2010: SourceForge has issued a statement regarding this situation. Nothing new though, just an apology to those affected by the change.
Comments
42
Subscribe to commentsGilbertoJan 25th 2010 3:33PM
Free software for everyone!
I'll remove my projects from SourceForge and I hope many others who believe in freedom and open source do the same.
Perhaps it's time for having open source repositories hosted in a more open source friendly country.
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5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups
6. No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor
muJan 25th 2010 5:42PM
So, it's not OK to download open source softwares, but it's OK to download closed ones?!
Anyway, I hope this will be a motive for these people to be more independent in the future, and to know that they can't count on the US government more than any other dictator in the world.
RayJan 25th 2010 7:18PM
Leave Cuba out of it? I can see why you want them to have access to open source software. That is your opinion, you are entitled to it and I respect it but what have they done lately??? Really? Maybe you should educate yourself elsewhere. Downloadsquad is not exactly the place but I can point you to a lot of reputable sources.
Brad JensenJan 25th 2010 8:10PM
Crazy times. There are currently hundreds-thousands of reasons for all people, including Americans, to be sick of the American Government.
The empire is beginning to collapse, and I can't wait for it to be over, even if it has to get ugly before it gets better.
Free_ProgrammerJan 26th 2010 4:54AM
OK,my question is : This is not a new list and the low is since 1993,why now? after all these years? maybe we would find alternative.
free software is not a under US lows,its global thing
joJan 26th 2010 10:16AM
On the one hand, the US complains that there is limited access to the internet in Cuba.... BUT on the other hand, it forces the hands of those willing to comply, to block access to 100s of thousands of websites (GoDaddy sites) and now to OPEN source software. It is an outrage that the US government act so cynical.
But what is worse is when something that is supposed to be opening up IT to the world, beyond the control of corporate profits and intellectual ownership, FOSS would block the ONLY country in the world that agrees with this philosophy! As meany have pointed out, open source is an international project... it is not owned by the US and it should not follow US laws!!!
Outrageous! Now what will I do? I quit MS because of thier unethical nonsense..... now where will I turn now? I just can't believe it.
joJan 26th 2010 10:24AM
yes, exactly, why now? Especially when the "free world"is in an uproar about China and Google... and especially when Hillary is on her soapbox about getting internet to the starving masses of the world! (nevermind the food).
It makes no sense that under the "hey let's get more friendly with our neighbors" president, we are getting this kind of nonsense happening. Ridiculous!
lukeJan 26th 2010 11:10AM
https://sourceforge.net/blog/clarifying-sourceforgenets-denial-of-site-access-for-certain-persons-in-accordance-with-us-law/
GilbertoJan 26th 2010 2:04PM
A good source for free hosting open source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_open_source_software_hosting_facilities
I have tried Launchpad before and it works pretty well, and even faster than sourceforge :)
despuesdelaunaJan 27th 2010 4:14AM
Imperialism, doesn´t seem to stop by taking control over an sovereign country like Haiti or how they did it with Irak, USA now pretends to govern the open source software. It´s helarious and outrageous.
I just hope important people of opensource don´t sit and watch this happen.
I wouldn´t continue to look at the community the same way.
I'm out of words.
zidane3x3Jan 28th 2010 9:23AM
Free software for everyone!
I'll too remove my projects from SourceForge
opensource = freedom
sourceforge = crazy :-(
lantiusJan 27th 2010 6:45AM
hi,
i am very dissapointed with this
so I have created a petition, next is the link :
I hope they won't get it as spam
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/CountryBlocks/
Sebastian AnthonyJan 27th 2010 11:36AM
Thanks for taking the time to make a petition!
peterttJan 27th 2010 9:11AM
Anyone who understands the fundamental technology that the internet is built on will know that it is impossible to block users completely.
This is obviously a token move to get off the State departments wish list - the guys you really don't want ripping your repo will get around this block instantaneously...
sewjeJan 27th 2010 9:22AM
He who controls information, controls the world. It's not surprising with so much amazing information available from a mouse click, it would be wise to not let that information into the wrong hands. Infomation is the new weapons in todays infomation age!
While you might like to learn a new food recipe, some sicko might just be learning the recipe for a nuke!
Ryan MatznerJan 27th 2010 10:15AM
If these people are using Source Forge, how hard could it be for them to just use a proxy?
RobJan 27th 2010 10:34AM
Open it back up. Subversion through freedom of speech is one of the most powerful weapons. Taking away the tools that will let the bad guys attack us also takes away the tools the decent ones would use to fight back. Seems backwards to try and drag them into a free open democracy by showing them what censorship is like.
Ryan KearneyJan 27th 2010 10:55AM
In other words, Source Forge obeys US exporting laws and doesn't allow sites on the governments list of countries we can't export to access their site.
Google Code does this too, it's nothing new.
White WolfJan 27th 2010 11:29AM
Is SourceForge truly bound by export laws to block access to countries the US government deems a threat? Don't those laws only affect the export of commercial goods?
THJJan 27th 2010 4:33PM
It will take all of 15 minutes for affected and technically able parties to get a VPN/Proxy set up.