What you need to know
- GitHub has placed restrictions on users due to U.S. trade sanctions.
- The restrictions affect users in Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria.
- Private repos and paid accounts are now restricted, though public repos are available and open-source repos are unaffected.
GitHub placed new restrictions on developers in Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria. Developers face restrictions as a result of U.S. trade sanctions. Private repositories (repos) and paid accounts are under these new restrictions, but public repos are still available, and open-source repos are unaffected. Several reports surfaced over the weekend of developers being affected by the restrictions (via The Verge).
ZDNet reports that a developer based in Crimea lost access to his private GitHub repos and a developer from Iran posted on Medium about his account being restricted.
Nat Friedman, GitHub CEO, took to Twitter to explain the restrictions, stating "We have gone to great lengths to do no more than what is required by the law, but of course people are still affected. GitHub is subject to U.S. trade law, just like any company that does business in the U.S."
It is painful for me to hear how trade restrictions have hurt people. We have gone to great lengths to do no more than what is required by the law, but of course people are still affected. GitHub is subject to US trade law, just like any company that does business in the US.It is painful for me to hear how trade restrictions have hurt people. We have gone to great lengths to do no more than what is required by the law, but of course people are still affected. GitHub is subject to US trade law, just like any company that does business in the US.— Nat Friedman (@natfriedman) July 28, 2019July 28, 2019
Friedman added in the same Twitter thread that "The restrictions are based on place of residence and location, not on nationality or heritage."
According to a GitHub support page, restricted accounts have "limited access to GitHub public repository services... for personal communications only, and not for commercial purposes." Access to private repos and access to paid services are suspended for restricted developers. Developers cannot get an export of the disabled content from GitHub according to a tweet from a developer which includes a screenshot of an email from GitHub.
The Verge received a statement from Microsoft on the situation.
GitHub is subject to U.S. trade control laws, and is committed to full compliance with applicable law. At the same time, GitHub's vision is to be the global platform for developer collaboration, no matter where developers reside. As a result, we take seriously our responsibility to examine government mandates thoroughly to be certain that users and customers are not impacted beyond what is required by law. This includes keeping public repositories services, including those for open source projects, available and accessible to support personal communications involving developers in sanctioned regions."
Developers are not able to surpass the ban with a VPN. Blocking is done based on I.P. addresses and payment histories.
Portable (and affordable) power accessories we love
Each and every one of these charging gadgets will keep your favorite gear and gadgets going for longer, and none of them costs more than $30.
VisionTek 8,000 mAh micro-USB power bank ($13 at Dell)
This compact dual-output powerbank can speedily recharge any and all your devices, thanks to a two-amp "fast charge feature," using its micro-USB out port. Its simple design includes an LED indicator, and it costs about as much as a single ticket to the movies.
Panasonic eneloop AA batteries (From $13 at Dell)
Panasonic's rechargeable batteries are among the best available, and just a couple of them will keep your favorite remote, mice or other peripherals powered up when you need them. They're also eco. And the company's affordable charger fits and charges both AA and AAA batteries at the same time.
Belkin Qi Wireless Charging Pad ($30 at Dell)
This unobtrusive Qi wireless charging pad looks good (and kind of like a UFO …) and easily charges all your Qi-compatible device up to 5W. Its LED indicator lights up when you're charging. And it costs just $30.
