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Skype Takes Heat For Chinese Censorship
Skype filtering words like 'Democracy' and 'Milk Powder'

A report (pdf) by Canadian researchers this week discovered that text communications conducted using the Chinese version of Skype that contain keywords of interest to the Chinese government are stored for censorship and civilian monitoring purposes, and communications containing these keywords are blocked. While China censoring and spying on their citizenry is not new, the fact this data was being stored in unsecured servers has embroiled Skype in a week-long public relations nightmare.

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"TOM-Skype is censoring and logging text chat messages that contain specific, sensitive keywords and may be engaged in more targeted surveillance," states the report. "What is clear is that TOM-Skype is engaging in extensive surveillance with seemingly little regard for the security and privacy of Skype users. This is in direct contradiction of Skype's public statements regarding their policies in China."

In a blog post, Skype CEO Josh Silverman does what any good executive would do: blame someone else. Silverman lays all the blame at the feet of Skype's Chinese partner, TOM Online, which he says has to help China's government as a condition of doing business in the country. According to Silverman, Skype had TOM Online better secure the data, which means everything's fine now. Right?

Most recommended from 35 comments



karlmarx
join:2006-09-18
Moscow, ID

2 recommendations

karlmarx

Member

It's all about the dollar!

The US doesn't really CARE about freedom, or democracy, or any of those talking points the republicans keep bringing up. The ONLY thing that matters to the government is the almighty corporate dollar. So WHAT if china is using US technologies to oppress their own citizens, as long as we get paid, all is good. We even outsource all our jobs over there, but the fat cat executives and corrupt wall street pigs still get their new ferarri's and beach houses. Capitalism without concerns for the consequences, that's what REAL american patriots support.

This message was approved by John McCain.