Fuck you, Microsoft

New York Times: Microsoft Shuts Blog's Site After Complaints by Beijing

BEIJING, Jan. 5 – Microsoft has shut the blog site of a well-known Chinese blogger who uses its MSN online service in China after he discussed a high-profile newspaper strike that broke out here one week ago.

Basically, Microsoft and other technology companies, including Yahoo, have been kissing the Chinese government’s arse because China is a big important market. But their means of doing so involves assisting the Chinese government in its suppression of free speech, which is not acceptable.

Microsoft say that they “must comply with local and global laws,” but that is a bullshit excuse. I do not know much internet law at all, but Microsoft’s blog servers are in the US and I do not think that China can do anything to Microsoft unless it wants to resort to a boycott of some sort. Microsoft is just acting in a cowardly manner.

And in case you don’t give a shit about free speech in China, think about what could come next.

The shutdown of Mr. Zhao's site drew attention and condemnation this week elsewhere online. Rebecca MacKinnon, a fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School, wrote on her blog, referring to Microsoft and other technology companies: “Can we be sure they won’t do the same thing in response to potentially illegal demands by an overzealous government agency in our own country?”

I think we all know the answer to that question.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/06/technology/06blog.html