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Microsoft IM Blocking YouTube Links

Posted by kdawson on from the walled-playground dept.

A number of readers are sending word that the blogosphere and Twittersphere are alight with reports of Microsoft's new block on messages containing YouTube URLs. Both MSN Messenger and Windows Live Messenger reportedly implement the block. One blogger sniffed the network to discover that such messages receive a NAK from Microsoft's servers. Microsoft has been blocking messages by keyword, as an anti-phishing measure, for some time, but *.youtube.com would not seem to provoke much worry about phishing. Instead, as B.E.T.A Daily speculates, "This block seems to be related to the recent launch of Messenger TV in 20 countries which allows for sharing video clips from MSN Video on Messenger." Hard to get away with in an arena where you don't enjoy a monopoly.

9 of 364 comments (clear)

  1. This should surprise no one by Presence2 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's Microsoft. "What can we get away with today?" Enough said.

  2. This seems rather foolish by AmonEzhno · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Refusing to carry the links of one of THE most popular web pages on whole internet seems like a poor business decision. If you can't share the links you want then many people are just going to switch.
    I mean who doesn't share youtube videos over IM?
    Sorry but this just seems ridiculous

  3. Re:First by Roadstar · · Score: 5, Informative

    In all seriousness, I've been sending YouTube links around (and receiving them) just fine. Dunno where the problem is.

    Well, I tried both Adium and the official Messenger for Mac, and YouTube links got blocked on both of them.

  4. More sites appear blocked as well by ThreeGigs · · Score: 5, Informative

    deviantart.com
    googlepages.com
    mediafire.com
    ebuddy.com
    xanga.com

    Workaround: don't add the "http://" in front of the address.

  5. But wait, there's more! by justthinkit · · Score: 5, Interesting

    People with email@msn.com addresses never receive YahooGroups.com invites. I get them bounced back to me routinely.

    This IM blocking is just another reason to boycott msn.com, hotmail.com & live.com.

    [Of course, YahooGroups now adds spaces in URLs I try to send to my groups. I have to TinyURL everything these days.]

    --
    I come here for the love
    1. Re:But wait, there's more! by BlueStrat · · Score: 5, Insightful

      People with email@msn.com addresses never receive YahooGroups.com invites. I get them bounced back to me routinely.

      This IM blocking is just another reason to boycott msn.com, hotmail.com & live.com.

      [Of course, YahooGroups now adds spaces in URLs I try to send to my groups. I have to TinyURL everything these days.]

      Yahoo has been blocking Photobucket.com links for ages in Yahoo chat. This is nothing new. Seems like it's getting to be pretty much S.O.P. these days for large 'net-service companies that provide multiple services including IM/chatroom-type services. Just forbid URLs to competitions' websites and services from being communicated over your services, and to heck with what the user wants.

      Nevermind that most peoples' reactions that discover this that I've seen was anger, disgust, and frustration, along with a fierce determination to *never* use Flickr (Yahoos' photo/video upload service) just because of this stupidity, and even closing accounts there. Way to retain users, there, Yahoo!

      I'm waiting to see if it comes to the point that things like the MSN Messenger installer silently removes competing IM/chat service client software. Or when things like Yahoo Messenger blocks the installation of competing services' software, or refuses to install while that software is present, and/or adds entries to the hosts file, blocking access to competitors'websites and services.

      When will these corporations learn that users naturally tend to use multiple providers for any one function or service, and that these kinds of childish behaviors only alienates them?

      Cheers!

      Strat

      --
      Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.
  6. They are gonna regret this by eiapoce · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Ms has the habit of getting into troube. This time they performed exceptionally well.

    We have a legislation here (italy) that state that tampering with electronic communications with the aim to impede or modify the contents of the messages is a felony. This is because the same legislation for standard mail has been applied to emails, phone conversations and IM.


    By my point of view MS is getting sacked really bad in EU. (And they fully deserve it!)

  7. Hanlon's Razor by geckipede · · Score: 5, Interesting

    "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." I'm having a hard time believing that stupidity stretches this far. My guess is that the MSN block list is maintained automatically and somebody found a way to feed bad data into the system.

  8. Re:Take off your tinfoil hats... by Sibko · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So let me get this straight, you think the simplest explanation is that someone screwed up and accidentally added youtube, a site that receives millions of visitors a month, is owned by Microsoft's rival Google, and is the most ubiquitous video sharing website in the world; to a blacklist. For several days. [And AFAIK, is still blacklisted.]

    Personally, I think a simper explanation is that someone with poor judgment thought banning youtube links would somehow benefit Microsoft. Maybe the decision was a good one, or a bad one. But I certainly don't think it was just "It's an accident, lol!"