Microsoft censors Chinese bloggers
14 June 2005
Microsoft is reportedly bowing to pressure from Beijing and banning Chinese web users from using the words "democracy", "freedom" and "human rights".
The US software giant also blocked the words "Taiwan independence" and "demonstration" from being used on its free online blog service, MSN Spaces.
According to media reports, bloggers entering such words, or other politically charged or pornographic content, are prompted with the message: "This item should not contain forbidden speech such as profanity. Please enter a different word for this item."
The government in Beijing requires all sites operating in China to abide by a strict code of conduct and censor any information that could be perceived as politically sensitive, pornographic or illegal.
In March, the Chinese authorities issued new regulations requiring that all China-based websites be formally registered with the government by the end of June. Police will shut down any websites failing to register.
Microsoft launched the MSN China web portal last month, as a joint venture with Shanghai Alliance Investment. Officials at Microsoft's Beijing offices have refused to comment on the censorship reports.
Both Yahoo! and Google have also come under fire for co-operating with the Chinese censorship laws.
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