The US has announced that it is to lift its restrictions on the export of communication services to regimes that had previously been barred from receiving American technology.
The US Treasury says the move means that it will be much easier for people in Cuba, Iran and Sudan to use the internet to communicate with each other and with the outside world.
The new licenses cover the authorised distribution of services such as web browsing, blogging, email, chat, social networking and video sharing.
The US said the change in policy comes after recent events in Iran which highlighted the power of social networks such as Twitter in allowing the free flow of information.
