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Microsoft Bans 'Democracy' for China's Web Users

Posted by timothy on from the not-merely-chinese-but-china's dept.

Doc Ruby writes "As reported, paradoxically, on MSN, 'Microsoft's new Chinese internet portal has banned the words 'democracy' and 'freedom' from parts of its website in an apparent effort to avoid offending Beijing's political censors.' MSN China says it must comply with local laws, but there is no Chinese law against the use of these words."

10 of 430 comments (clear)

  1. So... Does that mean we can invade Microsoft now? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    cuz they must be hating freedum and stuff...

  2. Seen on a chinese website... by guyfromindia · · Score: 5, Funny

    C2lick her3e for our dailey s1pecial on d3mocrazy!

  3. Re:So... Does that mean we can invade Microsoft no by geekee · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Does that mean we can invade Microsoft now, cuz they must be hating freedum and stuff..."

    That would be consistent with the Bush administration policies, i.e. invade Microsoft even though China is the real threat to democracy and freedom.

    --
    Vote for Pedro
  4. Next thing you know... by bryan8m · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...Microsoft will ban the word "monopoly"

  5. In other news... by ravenspear · · Score: 4, Funny

    Microsoft agreed to ban "innovation" from its international search portal to filter any potential self referential promotions that might run afoul of stricter false advertising laws in other countries.

  6. Re:Democracy is Eurocentric idea. by kentmartin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Can't one place be free of McDonalds, MTV, Democracy and Coca-Cola?

    Apparently not. I was in the Forbidden City in Beijing a few months ago. Bearing in mind that, after The Great Wall, it would have to be the most famous historical site in the entirety of China. What do you think is smack in the middle? A Starbucks.

    I wish this post was a joke, but, I am very sorry to say, it isn't.

    Ah - just noticed that wikipedia article above mentions it is there too, so I wasn't just seeing things.

  7. Re:Democracy is Eurocentric idea. by BandwidthHog · · Score: 5, Funny

    Can't one place be free of McDonalds, MTV, Democracy and Coca-Cola?

    One of these things is not like the other.

    Idiot.

    --

    Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
  8. Re:So... Does that mean we can invade Microsoft no by TubeSteak · · Score: 4, Funny
    In Soviet Russia, Freedom and Democracy ban Political Censors.

    wait a second...

    --
    [Fuck Beta]
    o0t!
  9. In Soviet Russia... by Metostopholes · · Score: 4, Funny

    You also couldn't talk about "freedom" and "democracy."

    Oh wait, the joke doesn't work like that, does it?

    --
    "With rare exceptions people cannot use that picture to masturbate, therefore it is not the internet."
  10. Google by minus_273 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Keep in mind, when google pulls a stunt like this, its ok.

    --
    The war with islam is a war on the beast
    The war on terror is a war for peace