Block registration from particular countries

[ayub02]

Abstract

Introduce a feature that allows platform administrators to restrict users from specific countries during sign-up and on account settings, addressing the need to control access based on legal, regulatory, or strategic requirements. Currently, there’s no mechanism for admins to restrict country access, requiring manual workarounds.

Detailed Product Proposal

https://openedx.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/OEPM/pages/4569825335/Proposal+Block+registration+from+particular+countries

Context & Background (in brief, if a Product Proposal is linked above)

The Open edX platform doesn’t currently provide a way for administrators to restrict users from certain countries. For organizations facing legal restrictions, regulatory compliance, or strategic considerations, this feature is essential to manage user access seamlessly. Currently, the country list is retrieved separately across different micro-frontends (MFEs) on the web and via a backend API for mobile apps, which leads to inconsistencies in experience across platforms.

Scope & Approach (in brief, if a Product Proposal is linked above)

The initiative focuses on modifying the country list based on a DISABLED_COUNTRIES setting, ensuring restricted countries are removed across all interfaces.

We have two implementation options:

Option 1: Maintain current structures by implementing backend filtering for both MFEs (via a new API) and mobile apps (via the registration API).
Option 2: Unify web and mobile by using a single registration API for country retrieval, which requires more extensive changes to MFEs but simplifies long-term maintenance.

Value & Impact (in brief, if a Product Proposal is linked above)

Successful deployment of the DISABLED_COUNTRIES list without any technical errors across web and mobile platforms.

Milestones and/or Epics

Option 1 is too small however option 2, if selected after review, can have milestones that are yet to be defined.

Named Release

Teak

Timeline (in brief, if a Product Proposal is linked above)

Tentative plan is to implement as per available bandwidth.

Proposed By

2U

Additional Info

No response

[github-actions]

Thanks for your submission, @openedx/openedx-product-managers will review shortly.

[sarina]

@ayub02 I want to touch base on this ticket, there is some conversation in the proposal about implementation. I think the product direction makes sense, but we need to iron out the implementation before moving forward with approval.

[ayub02]

@sarina sorry for late response. I want to set up a meet to discuss this with you and Asad. Can you please share your calendar where i can book some time for us?

[sarina]

@ayub02 - sure, you can make time here: https://calendly.com/sarina-tcril/30min

[marcotuts]

We had a version of this in use previously on the platform, and this is a rebuild or improvement? Previously (at least at edX) the country field was a required field in order to support blocking for certain courses etc.

Just making sure others know that exists, but this seems like a more general / high level version of this tool.

[sarina]

@marcotuts yes we've discussed this on the wiki page.

@ayub02 any update on this?

[ayub02]

Apologies for late response @sarina . I was out last week. The proposal has been updated. Would love to get reviews on it. Thanks. https://openedx.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/OEPM/pages/4569825335/Proposal+Block+registration+from+particular+countries

[sarina]

@ayub02 no worries, I'm getting back from leave myself.

From a product perspective, it looks like Marco took a look and I did as well, I think we can say this passes product review, provided that the old implementation will be deprecated as indicated.

However you should be sure to run your proposed implementation by the relevant technical teams (frontend and mobile) before implementation - I am not a frontend or mobile developer, so I'm not qualified to comment on the substance of your proposed implementation.

[awais-ansari]

Hello @sarina, Could you please direct us to the appropriate frontend and mobile teams or channels to discuss this proposal? Thanks!

[sarina]

On the Open edX side the rooms are called #wg-frontend and #mobile-apps. I do not know what they are called in your private 2U slack.