Microsoft may censor your blog

Microsoft has announced details of a new policy on censoring the content of blogs maintained by its customers. According to the new policy, blog content will only be blocked to comply with local laws and with the terms of use of MSN Spaces, the company's blog application. In order to have content blocked, a local government must demonstrate that it violates local laws. Moreover, the content will only be blocked in areas where those laws apply; users in other parts of the world will still be able to see the content. In cases where content is blocked, users will be notified and told that the reason is a government restriction.

Microsoft's announcement follows criticism of its decision to comply with requests of Chinese authorities to remove the blog content of an individual the government considered a threat. The announcement also comes on the heels of Google's plan to filter the content of its search results to comply with local laws in China. Both companies said their decisions are based on the belief that it is better to have a presence in countries like China, even if that requires limiting access to certain online content.

- Internet News, 1 February 2006

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