zlacker

>>rcoves+(OP)
Microsoft says it was due to an accidental human error.

https://twitter.com/josephfcox/status/1400913178125553665?s=...

>>jpinda+SU
Right of course is.

Yet 'another accident' on the anniversary of the crackdowns of the Tiananmen Square protests. /s

>>rvz+HV
I’m not sure what you’re trying to imply. The fact that it’s the anniversary would easily explain why they’re making sure it’s censored properly in China, the human error is that it’s being censored outside of China.

>>lilyba+VV
That's a perfectly good explanation, apart from the fact that an American company does censorship for Chinese government. If it's "inside China" doesn't make it better.

>>regnul+ma1
Well, an American company not doing censorship for inside China will not stay inside China very long.

I personally dislike this a lot, as well, but I can't blame a company for not taking a fall on what is arguably a political decision.

>>Sebb76+Ye1
Financially, complying with these censorship laws make sense.

Ethically, an American company should not be doing business if it involves censorship like this. Right now, things like LGBT+ rights are (sadly, in my opinion) still political decisions, as are decisions surrounding the ever-violent conflicts in the Middle East. Microsoft seems to err on the side of progressiveness in most of these political statements, proudly proclaiming "pride" on their Twitter page, presumably because it makes financial sense more than anything. Microsoft has no problem with politics if it serves to make them money.

The sad state of affairs is that money is more important than ethics for most companies. Microsoft made a political decision and that decision was that it's okay to censor recent history of violence against unarmed protestors.

I don't see how you cannot blame them for that decision unless you've fallen victim to Chinese propaganda.