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I don't understand why people are surprised. There are loads of education topics that are off limits. You can't get a VISA if you are studying certain hot topic
by tlarkworthy 13y ago
I don't understand why people are surprised. There are loads of education topics that are off limits. You can't get a VISA if you are studying certain hot topics, particularly those that can be weaponized.
Are people really arguing for Bashar al Assad's right to study molecular biology?
Why would you educate the engineers of an enemy state on how to build smart weapons? Even if a 20 year old left leaning engineer doesn't want to hurt anybody now, who knows where a lucrative career path will direct them in 10 years time.
- vacri 13y agoMost Coursera courses are intro/first-year level, not exactly smart weapon material. Are people really arguing for Bashar al Assad's right to study molecular biology? Because all Syrians are just like him? You know, it tends to be the educated people who are more against war and destruction. The higher the level of education of the population, the less it wants to go to war.
- riggins 13y agoMy immediate assumption was this is not the US is trying to restrict education. I suspect this was triggered by Coursera accepting money. The US has laws against doing business with certain countries. When Coursera started offering signature track classes where they charged money they are now doing business with restricted regimes. I have been surprised that there is no discussion of your initial point, that there are very rational reasons why a state might want to control access to educational material. Sure maybe offering people will lead to greater humanity ... or maybe it will lead to terrorists who can build sophisticated drone bombs. I don't know but I'm surprised it not a more prominent issue.