By Dan Ilett, 13 June 2005 14:20
NEWS
Microsoft may have banned the words 'democracy' and 'freedom' from the Chinese version of its MSN website.
According to the FT, the MSN website is blocking anti-communist phrases by sending an error message to anyone using the words, in a bid to avoid upsetting the Chinese government.
The message is reported to say: "This item contains forbidden speech. Please delete the forbidden speech from this item." The words for 'demonstration', 'democratic movement' and 'Taiwan independence' are also said to be banned.
Microsoft has dodged the question of censorship, issuing an emailed statement saying: "The content posted on member spaces is the responsibility of individuals who are required to abide by MSN's Code of Conduct which can be viewed at http://spaces.msn.com/coc.aspx. MSN abides by the laws and regulations of each country in which it operates."
Only the main part of the website is enforcing the ban and individualised MSN Spaces are not said be affected.
The drama is the latest in a spate of moves by the Chinese government to censor certain areas of the internet. Chinese officials are currently trying make people register websites with the state by July or risk being shut down.
Microsoft partnered with a state-owned company, the Shanghai Alliance Investment, last month to create the Chinese arm of MSN.
Comments
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1. Val Volfson
It seems unclear of what MSN is trying to do, whther its controll the internet, or jsut controll cerains aspects of private internet viewing. MSN is basically being really nice to te governmanet in an attempt to completely change the way they run things, I would't be surpised if in the future China goes democratic, becasue of MSN.
2. anonymous
Microsoft can do whatever it wants. If it wants to block all instances of "Apple" or "Java" then they are within their rights to do it. Its software, its website, its rules.
3. anonymous
Absolute Bollocks!
I tried searching for all these phrases (and more, like Tianamen Massacre) and got valid results for all of them.
4. anonymous
Nothing more than we have come to expect from Bill & his cronies.
5. Lionel A Smith
But Waiter are you searching using Chinese versions of MS software from some point inside China.
If you using UK versions of MS from inside UK then of course you will find that those words yield results.
The issue at stake here is really that MS demonstrate that (their) business, and profits, growth is more important than human rights. In which respect they can join the club along with Nike, Nestle and many other multinationals.
6. Mike Grello
Next they will be taking those words out of the U.S. edition, along with "impeachment"and "accountability".