Microsoft Blocks Instant Messenger in Cuba,Microsoft blocks Live Messenger access to embargoed nations
HAVANA, Cuba, May 29 (acn) Microsoft's decision to cut its online instant messenger service to Cuba, among other countries, was denounced in an article published Friday in the Juventud Rebelde newspaper.
The article, entitled "Cuba ¿la red cercada? (Cuba, the besieged internet?), reports that according to a communiqué issued by the giant software company, MSN Messenger Services have been suspended to Cuba and other "enemy" countries of the US, including Iran, North Korea, Syria and Sudan in accordance with US legislation.
The article points out that Microsoft's measures have caused widespread international controversy and that the move is not consistent with the company's advertising campaign launched 10 years ago. The campaign boasted that MSN Messenger would foster exchange between people without regards to race, beliefs, political ideals or any other discriminatory factors.
Not even the corporation's spokespersons have been able to give a convincing answer as to why the measure was taken now. "Is this a tenth anniversary present the company saved for itself, or is it another way to further tighten the siege against Cuba promoted by the most reactionary sectors of US politics and the economy," the article asks.
And Microsoft is not the only company that denies the use of advanced technology in Cuba.
In an open violation of international law, since the 1960s the US has prevented all major world computer manufacturers like Intel, Hewlett Packard, IBM or Macintosh from directly selling their products to Cuba -not even for humanitarian purposes like healthcare.
As an example the article notes that in 2003 the US Trade Department refused to grant a license for USA/Cuba-Infomed to send 423 computers to be used in Cuban hospitals and policlinics on the grounds that "it would harm US foreign policy interests."
Geo-blocking of products, services, and media is as commonplace as anything these days. From movies being released earlier in some countries, online video services such as Hulu and the BBC iPlayer being viewable on only one side of the Atlantic, and now access to Microsoft’s Live Messenger being blocked in a number of countries.
The idea of the Internet being a free and open network available to all is far from the reality. Thanks to the blocking of Web sites deemed offensive, or thanks to the Great Firewall of China, which blocks any site which could possibly contain anything not useful to society, the Web is about as free as a very expensive meal in a restaurant.
Windows Live Messenger, formerly MSN Messenger, is a free instant messaging client that enables people to chat, by text or video, over the Internet. Once a standalone product it’s now part of the Live group of Microsoft services alongside Live Hotmail, Live Search, and Live Writer.
Last week saw LiveSide discover that Live Messenger had been blocked in Cuba, Syria, Iran, Sudan, and North Korea, countries embargoed by the United States for being “hostile” or a threat in some other way. Users in these countries trying to access to the service will now receive the 810003c1 error message stating “We were unable to sign you in to the .NET Messenger Service.”
Microsoft has since confirmed the blocking of all Windows Live services in these countries in a support post. However, the names of the countries have been deleted to be replaced by the line “certain countries subject to United States sanctions.” Whatever the wording, Microsoft has decided that offering Live Messenger constitutes offering goods or products to a country which the U.S. government deems it is inappropriate to do so.
This would make sense except for two glaring facts: Windows Live services are free to use, and why now when sanctions have been in place against most of these countries for many years? Most commenters to the original article and others on the Web indicate that there are very simple workarounds to the block anyway. Which makes me think the whole thing is really rather pointless.