Dollars Over Democracy

Shame on Microsoft: they’ve just shown their true colors by acquiescing with the Chinese government to censor Chinese citizens. Microsoft’s new Chinese-based Internet portal will not allow users to search on the terms “democracy,” “freedom,” “human rights,” “Taiwan independence,” or “demonstration.” Imagine not being able to search for “freedom.” This is a truly cowardly display….

Yahoo and Google aren’t much better – they’ve been cooperating with the Chinese government too.

To their credit, Reporters Without Borders has said it “deplores the irresponsible policies of United States Internet firms Yahoo! and Google in bowing directly and indirectly to Chinese government demands for censorship.” Add Microsoft to their list of those who place corporate greed over doing the right thing. Who said the Internet was the most democraticizing force ever seen…?