US law prevents Google Earth downloads in Sudan

By Scott Gilbertson

April 20, 2007 (CAIRO) — Earlier this week I posted a short piece asking Compiler readers to help investigate the mysterious blocking of Google Earth downloads within Sudan. The rumor was that the Sudanese government might have been blocking downloads, but as it turns out that wasn’t the case.

It turns out Google was/is blocking the downloads, but they were only doing so in compliance with United States export laws. One of the unintended consequences of the U.S. sanctions on Sudan is that it is illegal to download Google Earth within Sudan.

While Google is doing the right thing in accordance with the law, it is of course highly ironic that a project designed to help raise awareness of the genocide in Sudan can’t be downloaded within its borders.

Fortunately software like Tor exists for exactly these situations. Using Tor’s proxy servers, aide workers in Sudan and the Sudanese themselves can download Google Earth by tricking the Google Earth server with fake proxies. Is it legal? No. But, in the spirit of Henry David Thoreau, I think it’s the right thing to do.

For some more background and an in depth look at the specificities of the legal codes involved, be sure to check out the coverage on Ogle Earth.

(ST)