Newsletter Sign-Up

Receive the latest technology news and information.

Gates: Web site censorship doesn't work

Microsoft chairman says users would still distribute banned news

By Reuters

February 2, 2006 12:00 PM ET

Reuters - LISBON -- Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates said government attempts to censor Web sites or blogs will fail, since banned information can get out in defiance of official efforts.
The spread of private e-mail means online users can distribute banned news despite government injunctions, he told a press conference yesterday.
"You may be able to take a very visible Web site and say that something shouldn't be there, but if there's a desire by the population to know something, it's going to get out," he said.
However, Gates said Microsoft, the world's biggest computer software company, has to meet the legal requirements of the countries in which it does business.
Microsoft pulled the blog, or Web log, of a critic of the Chinese government in December after receiving a government order to do so.
Brad Smith, Microsoft's chief counsel, said Tuesday that the company is creating rules to deal with government complaints about Web sites and blogs that Microsoft hosts (see "Microsoft revamps blogging policy").
Gates was in Lisbon for a Microsoft-sponsored forum on how to use Internet technology to make the public sector more effective.

Reprinted with permission from

This article is reprinted by permission from Reuters.com, Copyright (c) 2006 Reuters. Reuters content is the intellectual property of Reuters or its third-party content providers. Any copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. For additional information on other Reuters Services, visit the Reuters public Web site.

Recommend Digg Twitter ShareThis

Email Print Send Feedback Reprints

Jump to comments

Web Site Management

Additional Resources

Xerox

Win a color printer!

By using solid ink technology only from Xerox, you could save up to 65% by printing color for the cost of black and white. Enter for a chance to WIN a PhaserTM 8860 network color printer!

Microsoft

Upgrade to Internet Explorer 8 today.

Save time and mitigate security risk. Deploy it now.

Sybase

NEXT-GENERATION MOBILITY PLATFORMS

In this white paper, IDC analyzes the role of next-generation mobile enterprise platforms as organizations seek a more strategic deployment of mobile solutions.

Learn the important issues you must consider before starting your next mobility initiative. Get your mobility white paper from IDC now, compliments of Sybase.

White Papers & Webcasts

Return on Information: Google Enterprise Search pays you back
Download this whitepaper showing how Google Enterprise Search boosts your bottom line.

Extending Client Refresh - 11 Steps to Maximize Savings
Register Now!

Case Study: Live Nation and Citrix NetScaler
When Live Nation spun off from Clear Channel Communications it urgently needed to consolidate nearly 100 different Web sites.

Lower the Cost and Complexity of a Mobile Workforce through Automation
Download This Resource Now!

Southern Company
Download Now

Managing Mobility: Improve Data Security, Compliance and Manageability
Download This Resource Now!

Defending Against the Storm
Download Now

Consolidate Your Servers and Storage to Lower Costs with Oracle Database 11g
Register for this webcast!

Share our Strength
Download Now

The Commercialization of ITIL: Lessons Learned
Register for this event today!

All White Papers | All Webcasts

Computerworld Reports

Sold on SOA

8 Questions To Ask About Your Intrusion-Security Solution

Computerworld Technology Briefings IT Service Management

All Computerworld Reports

	Application/Web Development
	Web Site Management
	Computerworld Daily News (First Look and Wrap-Up)
	Computerworld Blogs Newsletter
	The Weekly Top 10
	Cloud Computing

resource center