Gemini 2.5 Pro Access: Google’s AI Model Faces Regional Restrictions and Global Impact

Image Credit: Farhat Altaf | Splash

Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro, an advanced multimodal AI model, has been rolled out globally, offering high-level capabilities for processing text, images, audio, and video. While available for free through Google AI Studio and the Gemini app in more than 230 countries and territories, the model remains restricted in specific regions, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Cuba. Taiwan has full access.

Gemini 2.5 Pro: Overview and Capabilities

Launched on March 25, 2025, by Google DeepMind, Gemini 2.5 Pro is a multimodal AI system built on advanced transformer-based architectures and reinforcement learning. It features a 1-million-token context window, with plans to expand to 2 million tokens. The model is designed for complex reasoning, code generation, mathematics, and scientific tasks, and has led benchmarks such as LMArena and WebDev Arena.

Originally available only to Gemini Advanced subscribers, Google made Gemini 2.5 Pro available to all users on March 31, 2025, through Google AI Studio and the Gemini app. Free-tier users face rate limits, while paid tiers offer enhanced features. The move is intended to broaden AI access and accelerate innovation, although restrictions persist in certain countries due to regulatory and geopolitical considerations.

Regional Access: Where Gemini 2.5 Pro Is Available

Gemini 2.5 Pro is accessible in over 230 countries and territories, including the United States, Taiwan, and most European nations. However, access is restricted in the following regions:

• Mainland China: Gemini 2.5 Pro is not available due to China’s regulatory framework, which mandates local data storage and requires government approval for foreign AI services. All Google services remain blocked by the Great Firewall.

• Hong Kong and Macau: Access is restricted, with users generally unable to use Gemini without VPNs. Restrictions are influenced by compliance concerns under China’s National Security Law and increasing alignment with mainland regulatory policies.

• Russia: Gemini 2.5 Pro is inaccessible due to U.S. sanctions and Russian regulations favoring domestic AI solutions. Access to other Google AI products has been similarly restricted.

• Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba: Access is blocked as a result of U.S. export control laws, which prohibit American companies from providing AI services in these countries, as outlined by the U.S. Treasury’s OFAC guidelines.

• Taiwan: Full access is available. Taiwan operates outside of China’s internet censorship and regulatory restrictions, allowing open access to Google’s AI platforms.

• European Union: Gemini 2.5 Pro is accessible to individual users across all EU countries through Google AI Studio and the Gemini app. Enterprise access via Vertex AI is available in most regions, though rollout may be affected by compliance requirements under the EU AI Act.

Google does not publish an official list of excluded countries for Gemini 2.5 Pro, but these patterns are consistent with restrictions on previous Google AI models.

Factors Behind Regional Restrictions

The restrictions on Gemini 2.5 Pro access are shaped by several factors:

• Regulatory Compliance: Mainland China enforces strict AI laws, including requirements for data localization and government oversight. Hong Kong and Macau face similar restrictions due to their alignment with mainland policies. Russia maintains data localization laws and promotes domestic AI services.

• U.S. Sanctions: Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Cuba are subject to comprehensive U.S. sanctions, prohibiting the provision of AI services by American companies.

• Geopolitical Dynamics: U.S.-China and U.S.-Russia tensions, along with China’s regulatory influence over Hong Kong and Macau, contribute to Google’s cautious approach in these markets. Taiwan’s independent status supports its open access.

• Market Strategy: Google focuses on regions with fewer regulatory obstacles, such as Taiwan, the United States, and the EU, and deprioritizes markets facing complex legal and geopolitical barriers.

Benefits of Gemini 2.5 Pro Availability

• Fostering Innovation: In accessible regions, developers, students, and businesses can use Gemini 2.5 Pro to experiment and innovate in areas such as education, healthcare, and technology.

• Versatile Applications: The model supports a wide range of use cases, including software development, data analysis, and multimedia tasks.

• Global Competitiveness: By offering free-tier access, Google positions Gemini 2.5 Pro as a direct competitor to other leading AI models, supporting broader AI adoption.

Challenges of Restricted Access

• Innovation Gaps: Limited access in China, Hong Kong, Macau, Russia, and sanctioned countries may hinder local AI development and widen the technology gap with open regions like Taiwan and the EU.

• Access Barriers: Users in restricted regions must rely on VPNs, which introduces technical and cost barriers, particularly for small businesses and non-technical users.

• Privacy Concerns: In regions where Gemini is accessible, users may have concerns regarding data privacy and the handling of sensitive information, as outlined in Google’s privacy policies.

• Enterprise Rollout Delays: In the EU and other regulated markets, enterprise adoption through Vertex AI may be affected by evolving legal requirements.

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