MSN Spaces Supporting Censorship?
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Written By Reprise Media | June 13, 2005 | Share This
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Forbidden words don’t always involve body parts or scatological phrases. In China they include terms like “freedom” and “democracy” and “independence” and on Microsoft’s Spaces blogs they’ll be punished accordingly.
Following the lead of competitors such as Yahoo and Google, Microsoft appears to be complying with the Chinese government’s censorship of personal web sites and blogs.
Spaces users who attempted to use the above-mentioned words were returned a message stating:
“This item should not contain forbidden speech such as profanity. Please enter a different word for this item.”
Yesterday Microsoft blogger Robert Scoble posted his own view of the China free speech debate, essentially agreeing with Microsoft’s decision to continue doing business in China, despite what some are saying are major freedom of speech and human rights violations. Here’s an excerpt:
“I’m not Chinese. I’m American. So I have ABSOLUTELY NO BUSINESS forcing the Chinese into a position they don’t believe in… When doing business in various countries and, even, various states here in the US, we must comply with the local laws if we want to do business there.”
Of course Scoble is now drawing some serious opposition from the blogging community, with comments ranging from rational intellectual discouse:
“Law doesn’t enter into it. Rational ethics are pervasive and transcend culture and even popular opinion. If you support an individual’s right to his own life, you have to acknowledge the basic rights essential to his survival.”
to personal attacks:
“Your credibility weakens when you stray from your comfort zone. Stick to posts about who you had dinner with the night before.”
We believe it’s simply a matter of time before technology and money catch up with (and topple) the Chinese government’s repressive treatment of the internet. As mobile and broadband technologies spread and the middle class begins demanding more of the goods and services we enjoy in the West, it’s going to become harder and harder for authorities to keep this medium ’safely’ contained.
The BBC has an interesting related article on some side effects of China’s controlled net climate, including its ban on sexually suggestive sites.
Topics: Microsoft |