[Chapter-delegates] Google verification - now excluded an entire country

[David Leeming]

Hi, 

 

Google / Gmail accounts now use SMS or Voice call verification. In our
region, the Pacific Islands, this effectively is excluding everyone from
creating a new account. 

 

For example, I just tried again, to create a Gmail account. It just says
"this country (Solomon Islands) is not supported" and gives no other option.
Looks like a whole country has been excluded!!! Others in the region have
told me the same experience - Vanuatu for instance.

 

This is a blow because we have been building an online community for a Youth
project here (http://isabel-youth.ning.com), using a Google group as an
online  "community of practice". Even if SMS verification worked, few of
these people have mobile phones, even fewer of them live in a location with
mobile coverage. Most access a shared/community Internet facility. Voice
call verification would not be an option either, for same reason and also
lack of fixed lines in 85% of the country (75% of the country with no mobile
coverage). As calls into the Solomons are amongst the highest in the world
(it costs over EUR 1 / min to call using a TOIP service) I can't imagine
voice call verification would be supported anyway. Google would not be that
generous.

 

I think this is something ISOC might take up with Google. It is a very
backward step, creating barriers to access for the most disadvantaged.

 

David Leeming

Leeming Consulting, P.O. Box 652, Honiara, Solomon Islands

Tel: +677 747-6396 (m) 24419 (h) 

www.leeming-consulting.com

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