Jonathan Watts: Microsoft helps China to censor bloggers

From the Guardian:

Civil liberties groups have condemned an arrangement between Microsoft and Chinese authorities to censor the internet…

The word “demonstration” is taboo, but “protest” is all right; “democracy” is forbidden, but “anarchy” and “revolution” are acceptable. On MSN Space, Chinese bloggers cannot use the name of their own president, but can comment on Tony Blair. “Tiananmen” cannot be mentioned.

A Microsoft spokesman said the restrictions were the price the company had to pay to spread the positive benefits of blogs and online messaging.

See also blogger Rebecca MacKinnon’s response to MSN.