By Dan Ilett, 16 June 2005 13:45
NEWS
Microsoft has hinted it is censoring certain words on its MSN website in China.
When asked if it had banned the words 'freedom' and 'democracy' from the web portal, which was launched last month, the company said it had a list of words that kept content within the norms of the country.
In an email sent to silicon.com, Microsoft said: "We don't disclose the list but we do have the ability to change and update the filter as needed to help ensure we abide by the laws, regulations and norms of China."
Microsoft dodged the question of censorship earlier this week, after an article in the Financial Times accused it of scrubbing the words 'democracy' and 'freedom' from the Chinese version of its MSN website.
According to the FT, the MSN site blocks anti-communist phrases by sending an error message to anyone using the words, to avoid upsetting the Chinese government.
The error message is reported to say: "This item contains forbidden speech. Please delete the forbidden speech from this item." The Chinese words for 'demonstration', 'democratic movement' and 'Taiwan independence' are also said to be banned.
Microsoft partnered with a state-owned company, the Shanghai Alliance Investment, last month to create the Chinese arm of MSN.
Chinese officials are currently trying to make people register websites with the state by July. If they do not, they risk being shut down.
Comments
There are 5 comments. Join the discussion
1. Matt Hamon
Human rights, freedom and democracy, these are things we take for granted but should not. The example of Microsoft filtering freedom of speech in another country demonstrates how the people running big businesses care not about anything other then their own personal greed.
I guess Bill will make another big donation and we are all so suppose to forget this disgusting act of bastardry.
2. David Gaskill
On this computer I have no less than 17 filters blocking e-mails containing the word Viagra.
Sometimes it is spelt with asterisks sometimes with three a's and indeed in 15 other ways.
Microsoft is only required to block the word the "democracy". There is no requirement to block
" demacracy "or "demucracy" or any other spelling that leaves the reader in no doubt as to the
intended word.
By complying with the Chinese government demand and hence being able to continue to operate in China
Microsoft is probably helping to promote the very concept expressed by the blocked word...
David Gaskill
Hong Kong
3. Peter Scargill
Microsoft should be ashamed of contributing to China's disgraceful record on human rights. It is an outrage to help the repressive regime to keep it's citizens in the dark.
4. Ian Savell
I just hope the Chinese government also shut down the so-and-sos who bombard me with spam. Somuch for free speech, lets have some decent regulation. Are the names of popular male enhancement drugs on Microsoft's censor list?
5. MIKE
David Gaskell is right - No list of censored words will ever work: When the've blocked all the mispellings, the cogniscenti can resort to euphemisms or indeed invent an underground language. example "pig_swill" = "democracy" or half spell it backwards: "omed_ycarc"
Microsoft are right in thinking that a censored presence is better than no presence.