Microsoft's MSN Spaces, a free blog-hosting service similiar to Blogger, has shut down a leading Chinese blog which was often critical of the Chinese Communist Party. Investigative blogger Rebecca MacKinnon writes that MSN staff were the ones who decided to censor Michael Anti's (aka Zhao Jing) Chinese-language blog, not Chinese authorities.
Microsoft officials justify the action by saying it is necessary to comply with the local laws when operating in China. Although others have had lots to say about this controversial stance, I will add that Chinese laws are not to blame--in fact, the Chinese Constitution guarantees citizens' right to criticize the government. Don't believe me? Read it here in Articles 35 and 41. The problem is that China today is not ruled by law, but by the authoritarian CCP, who cloak their actions under the guise of protecting China's stability and prosperity.
But the focus of this post is not about the sins of the CCP, but the complicity of Microsoft's MSN in propping up (yes, the CCP needs propping up) a dictatorial regime. Therefore, I suggest anyone who has a MSN Spaces account to find another host. I also suggest spreading the word--after all, Microsoft should be ashamed of its actions.
Must read links concerning the Anti shut-down:
CNET News.com story
Rebecca MacKinnon's blog
Anti's blog (cached on Google)
Microsoft employee/blogger Robert Scoble with a Microsoft employee's take on the situation
MSN official trying to justify censorship
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