'Disgust' as Microsoft censors Chinese blogs

[ovi]

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) - the press freedom outfit - is "disgusted" that Microsoft is censoring its MSN blog service in China.
The software giant has bowed to Beijing's political censors banning the use of the words "freedom" and "democracy" on some areas of its Chinese internet portal, along with a host of other politically sensitive words such as "Taiwan independence" and "demonstration".
The portal is operated by Shanghai MSN Network Communications Technology, a joint venture between Microsoft and Shanghai-government owned Shanghai Alliance Investment (Sail). Microsoft holds 50 per cent of the business.

In a statement RSF said: "The lack of ethics on the part of [Microsoft] is extremely worrying. Their management frequently justifies collaboration with Chinese censorship by saying that all they are doing is obeying local legislation.

"Does that mean that if the authorities asked Microsoft to provide information about Chinese cyberdissidents using its services that it would agree to do so, on the basis that it is 'legal'?

"We believe that this argument does not hold water and that these multinationals must respect certain basic ethical principles, in whatever country they are operating," it said.

A spokeswoman for Microsoft told The Register: "MSN abides by the laws, regulations and norms of each country in which it operates. The content posted on member spaces is the responsibility of individuals who are required to abide by MSN's Code of Conduct."

Source: theregister.co.uk/2005/06/14/microsoft_disgust/

 

[Paul_KY]

The Chinese have been ripping off M$ for years. This is simply a retalitory reaction.

 

[Duke]

The Chinese have been ripping off M$ for years. This is simply a retalitory reaction.

I know this is going to be a stupid question, but do you care to elaborate on this?

 

[Paul_KY]

The Chinese take copyright laws as about as seriously as I take a parking ticket.

Ever seen one of those look-a-like rolex watches? How about a fake gucci bag? Ever seen a boxed DVD, labled with the Panasonnic brand? Did you notice the two, "n"s? Some people don't, and they think they're getting a bargain. They do the same with software in China.

It's a big problem.

http://www.corante.com/importance/a...ght_infringement_in_china_and_chinas_dmca.php

 

[Pentarix]

I remember reading some of these stories a couple years ago, about people in Asia and their sites getting shutdown every other week by the ISP bending to pressures from the authorities. I have a friend who had such a site, they are very popular but must remain underground if they hope to last for any amount of time.