Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft Changes Blog Censoring Policies

Posted by Zonk on from the less-restrictions-more-talking dept.

Lam1969 writes "Microsoft attorney Brad Smith says that the company has a new policy to deal with a foreign government's request that alleges posted material violates its laws. The policy was apparently developed after Microsoft's own employees complained after a Chinese blogger hosted by Microsoft was censored. From the article 'Smith said Microsoft will only remove blogs when given proper legal notice, and even then, will only block access to that material within the country where it is deemed unlawful. The site will still be viewable from outside the country, he said.'"

5 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. useful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    "And even then, it will block access to that material only within the country where it is deemed unlawful. The site will still be viewable from outside the country, he said."

    ooh thats useful. someone blocks your site, then you have to travel to another country to update it.

  2. Re:Say what you will about MS... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    being a current MS employee, generally speaking MS is extremely open to critism internally, staff are encouraged to have there say. I would feel very comfortable raising objections internally with the knowledge that the worst that would happen would be that my opinin was rejected. I previously worked at another unamed large IT company and one of the reasons I left was when voicing my opinion about one of our products internally I was told that such critism was unacceptable in open forum (even though it was internal).

  3. this is really bad for china... by Elminst · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This is actually really bad for places like china...
    Now someone can post a blog/whatever with potential bad info about things happening in china, and no one in china can see it. BUT, the rest of the world will see it in all its glory, uncensored. Great for the revolutionaries, good for the rest of the world, bad for china, et al.
    It's like the head in the sand. China won't see it, and thus denies it exists. But the rest of the world will see it just fine.
    If this holds, expect to see even more posts about chinese atrocities from internal subversives, because now they won't be hidden from the outside world.

    --
    No unauthorized use. Trespassers will be shot. Survivors will be shot again.
  4. Google/Russian Culture Version of Evil by hansreiser · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Please remember that one of the founders of Google is Russian, and in Russian culture censorship is just not evil. Censorship is what you do if you have the power to do it. Nothing more.

    So, when Google says don't be evil, they mean it sincerely. They just don't mean what us Americans mean.

    Also, keep in mind that the US government is doing nothing, repeat, nothing, to prevent foreign governments from pressuring US based companies into censorship. If you want there to be no censorship by China, then pass a law stating that any company that censors material based on the request of a foreign government which is not also censorable under US law may not do business in the US.

    If you aren't willing to pass such a law, which will have a price, then don't complain about Google.

    Please consider the enormous strategic importance of the Chinese market for Google. China is growing FAST. Also consider that Google most likely does not consider themselves to be irreplaceable for China, and that there is really not a lot they can do (unless the US Government pushes back against China in this culture war). Then consider one last time that in Russian culture this is just not evil.

    This is a job for the US Government, not Google or Microsoft. Oh dear. Sigh.:-/

  5. Re:Unfortunately by ClearlyPennsylvania · · Score: 2, Interesting
    for those of you who think you would choose to be moral and not support censorship, I would love to see how fast you turn on those convictions if someone pulled up with a dumptruck of money.
    Stop for a second and really, really think about it. Forget all the money associated with any particular decision. Then, ask yourself, is Google doing something immoral? It's a very tricky question. Here's how I feel about it: A.1 Google does not have the leverage in China to change China's free speech policy. A.2 Regardless of Google's decision, Chinese people would not have the ability to access prohibit content (China has its own filters set up) A.3 The Chinese people, at worst, can access the same content they could before. At best, they can access more. A.4 Therefore, the net effect to the Chinese people is neutral or positive. B Seriously, reliably searching content on the internet is not the biggest of their problems. This is just not that big of a deal C.1 Suppose the US created a law that made google filter out child porn - this would not be unexpected C.2 Now, suppose some Canadian search company tried to set up shop in the US. Would we not expect them to abide by the US laws? Basically, Google did not have a choice about whether or not to deliver unfiltered content to the Chinese people. Overall, I think this created a better situation for the Chinese people, and isn't that what's important? The only question here is this: should you stick to your ideals even if it creates a worse situation for everyone involved? Some may say yes, I say no.