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MSN Cuts Unmonitored Chatrooms Around the Globe
letxa2000 writes "According to MSNBC, Microsoft will be shutting down its unmonitored chat services in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and much of Latin America on October 14th--the day before MSN Messenger will lock out many 3rd party clients. Interestingly, the European manager of MSN is quoted as saying 'This is a decision based upon consumer experiences, child protection and our strategic investment to build up MSN Messenger.' It's starting to become clear that Microsoft is starting up the IM wars again and that the 3rd-party lockout indeed isn't so much about security as it is about marketshare."
Maybe this comment is off-topic at best.
I can't stop thinking that our society is becoming more and more like the world in this classic novel. Though types of crimes committed today have changed since when it was originally written, we are living in the society that is watched by those who are in power. One's identity is a personal property to be exploited by criminals and politicians. Look at how MS has been controlling consumers with propaganda and FUD and what RIAA is doing to people with little voice. The only difference between the novel and reality is that the one who's watching us is not the government, but corporate monopolies that exploits workers and abuses their advantageous positions for nothing but their own profit.
What is "freedom," anyway?