Microsoft in human rights row

Found on The Observer on Saturday, 31 January 2004
Browse Politics

Technology sold by Microsoft to the Chinese government has been used by Beijing to censor the internet, and resulted in the jailing of its political opponents.

An Amnesty International report has cited Microsoft among a clutch of leading computer firms heavily criticised for helping to fuel 'a dramatic rise in the number of people detained or sentenced for internet-related offences'.

China is the world's most aggressive censor of the internet. Websites are banned for using words such as 'Taiwan', 'Tibet', 'democracy', 'dissident' and 'human rights'. Amnesty has recorded dozens of cases of political opponents jailed for circulating material offensive to the Chinese government.

Microsoft told The Observer: 'We are focused on delivering the best technology to people throughout the world. However, how that technology is used is with the individual and ultimately not in the company's control.'

Interesting that Gates' foundation does a lot for global health, education and libraries on one hand, but MS decides to make business with a country that tyrannizes those looking for free speech; plus, it's a communist country (nothing against communists, but the US wasn't very fond of them before).