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Microsoft Censoring Blogs on MSN China
jdfox writes "The BBC is reporting that Microsoft is censoring blogs on MSN China. The words 'freedom', 'democracy' and 'demonstration' are reportedly among the words being blocked.
But the article also points out that Microsoft is not the first corporation to censor content when the Chinese government requests it." Slashdot covered this story a few days ago too.
..they'd simply pull out of the Chinese market.
But whats human rights and freedom when theres
market share and online presence at stake. Right?
Well I'm assuming it would be because in the first one they were talking about the MSN site, and this one they're talking about Blogs hosted by MSN.
Yeah, that's pretty shitty, but I wouldn't say it's Microsoft's fault. If they want to do business in China they have to comply with Chinese law. Chinese law's kinda oppressive. News at 11.
... that the dollar is more important than freedom or principles.
I guess it shouldn't be any surprise the Microsoft and other companies are anxious to help China maintain and strengthen it's totalitarian government, since it's the government that controls the purse strings.
It should give all of us in this country pause. Microsoft obviously has no issues with a government that has it's army fire upon students demonstrating for democracy. It's a short step from there to helping an American administration (of whichever party) do the same thing in this country. Considering how much money Microsoft was saved by the hand slap it got from Justice after being convicted of monopolistic practices, I would assume Bill Gates feels deeply indebted to the present administration.
Apparently, even Google, a company that claims it's unofficial motto is "Dont' Be Evil", doesn't feel like it has a responsibility to behave ethically.
It wasn't defense spending in the U.S. that caused the fall of Communisim in the USSR, it was blue jeans and walkmans -- simple economics. It became glaringly obvious to everyone in communist states that they were being deprived the advances that were cheap to citizens of democratic countries.
The Chinese have never been stupid or foolish. They learned from the lesson of the USSR and they are modernizing their economy in order to prevent a similar revolution. It is unfortunate that companies like Microsoft, Google, and Walmart are so quick to help them.
China is still a totalitarian government. China allows the use of slave and prison labor to produce goods which show up on American store shelves. Ever wonder why goods made in China are so inexpensive?
The American government and businesses are not just hurting the Chinese people by helping such a government; they are hurting American citizens. We are losing jobs. We are becoming a nation that produces nothing but Reality TV shows. Worse the lesson to our children is that freedom only counts until someone offers you more money.
These companies argue that by doing business with China, they are improving the lives of ordinary Chinese. How can we trust them? There have been numerous stories about the use of prison labor and child labor to produce goods bound for America. Can they really know that they are helping the average Chinese when China does not have a free press that can report how things actually are? I sincerely doubt that the workers in China are getting the same wages and benefits that American workers would get. I wonder if they are even getting enough more to substantially change their lives.
If you are going to stand for freedom, you have to do it all the time, not just when it's financially attractive.
-All that is gold does not glitter - Tolkien
www.ra
Blocking information in this century is really a grave mistake. We've finally reached a stage where the entire data is at our fingers - if Douglas Adams were alive, he'd say Earth has finally finished calculating the ultimate question. Why is a govt. afraid of it's online content? Sounds like those Nazi days of Germany when it was previleged to have uncensorsed information about the rest of the world. The Chinese need to do something.
it took this to shed light on that for you? No offense but I see THAT as sad. If you haven't figured it out now, the major corporations in America do everything in their power to limit our rights in our own country. Whatever it takes to make more money, that's always been their motto.
Um .. hate to burst your bubble, but *all* companies are about money.
There is no moral compunction for companies to do anything. As can be seen with all sorts of disasters in the past wehere companies have done stuff which was damaging to people/environment/markets/[insert favourite disaster] but to their own profit. Companies are only compelled to do things against their bottom dollar by two main things:
1) People voting with their wallets (but if you don't know what bad practices they have in their closets, how do you know how to vote that way?)
2) Government regulation. ie laws, legislastion etc (But what do you do when the comapny is in bed with the legislators?)
I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
Of course if you really want to get all tinfoil hat about it, then the best way to censor/control people is to let them believe they are not being censored/controlled. If you can pull that off then you have complete control.
Just look at what the current US administration has done in the name of the war on terror. The TSA and Homeland Security can get away with almost anything because "the people" have been convinced that it is all for their own good.
I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
At least they have a voice, even if it's a censored one. Would taking that away be any better?
Yes, China has a disgusting government, but it's not maintainable with the direction they're moving in. Even with the censorship, this gives people the ability to say something.
It's not just Microsoft. The world doesn't care about what China's doing, because there's nothing to stop them. If people cared about human rights, the olympics wouldn't be in Beijing in 2008.
Note that these are blogs in CHINESE. However, they're well skilled at using creative euphmemism to get around automatic filters.
That doesn't have anything to do with MSN blogs in China! If you don't like the embargo, fine. But it is hardly a valid counter-point in a discussion on whether or not MS should comply with the Chinese government. In fact, the poster you replied to didn't even mention Cuba. If you have an opinion on something and you want people to take it seriously, it is best to discuss it at an appropriate time. Lashing out at people who didn't even bring it up just to make your point known is going to detract from your argument and the way people listen to you (if they listen at all).
-KD
What if the Chinese Gov had requested that for every blog posted on MSN Spaces, Bill Gates had to kill a dog?
He should do it, right? After all, that's respecting the laws of a country you're operating in and that's what Microsoft believes should be done.
I don't see how it's any different. Both are proactive moves and both stand against most people's moral standards. I think Microsoft's management would see things far differently if the results were right there in front of them. They're actively aiding in suppressing human rights, as defined by their own country. For this reason, and because Microsoft is not a military or political power (give it a few years), the only morally acceptable action would be to stay out of the markey.
you are being SO naive, it hurts. The USA trades DAILY with really nasty gummints all over the world.
Furthermore, the US gummint itself is doing really nasty things all over the world.
You drive a car? Where do you think the oil comes from? Some peace loving bunch of desert hippies?
You buy some sneakers? Who do you think made them? Some upper middle class suburbanite in a clean well lighted climate controlled office?
You buy your love a diamond ring? where do you think the diamond came from? Assembled in some pollution free factory in Middle America and dug from the earth by harmless robots?
EVERY purchase you make as a first world consumer has far reaching and devastating effects on other people and the environment. Your very lifestyle sits at the heart of an ignominious betrayal of the human spirit.
the difference is: I know this and I work to fight it as best I can - and I know that carping about China or Cuba isn't going to change things one bit. Yes they are despotic regimes, but Cuba's infant mortality rate is much better than the USA's and China's financing the federal debt so our idiot president can go pound the middle east and make the oil safe for the Chinese to buy - tool that he is.
RS
Shoes for Industry. Shoes for the Dead.
This isn't TV. You can go back and read Saturday's news on Monday.
--
WHO ATE MY BREAKFAST PANTS?