Iran Cuts off Access to Google, Gmail

Nation attempting to launch its own Internet

Iran has shut off access to Google and Gmail inside the country, a step eyed by Web activists with concern as the nation's leaders seek to wall off a corner of cyberspace separate from the global Internet.

As of Monday, Iranians received an announcement via text message that quoted Abdolsamad Khoramabadi, secretary of an official group that scours the Web for banned content.

"Due to the repeated demands of the people, Google and Gmail will be filtered nationwide," the message said. "They will remain filtered until further notice."