Social Control And Software

I just read an article that reveals that Microsoft has shut down the blog site of a Chinese citizen who uses his blog to discuss political issues. The article also reveals that Microsoft’s blog tool in China is configured to filter out words like “demorcracy” and “human rights” from blog titles. This makes me think.

I do not hate Microsoft. In fact, I have fond memories of starting my career on a PC using Microsoft software. I like .NET, especially the IDE in Visual Studio. I like Open Source, but I cannot seem to get a hate on for Microsoft the way some people do. I like Bill Gates for his vision, and for his philanthropy. I even have some very good friends who work for Microsoft. Still, if Microsoft is using software and services to help repressive regimes exercise social control over their population, I have to pause.

On the one hand, Microsoft does have a responsibility to obey the law in each country where it carries out business. However, I think it would be more ethical to refuse to provide service in China and to cite human rights abuse as the reason. This would be much better than participating in censorship.

Richard Stallman often draws a link from free software to freedom in general. Some people think he is a brilliant crank, but, if I were a social activist, I would probably be disinclined to use tools that control me. I want to control my tools, thank you very much. I do not want my tools to control me. Repressive regimes almost always outlaw the opposition. If Microsoft is willing to do the work of the oppressors, then we all have to think hard about the word “free” means when we talk about free and open software. Open source may not just be an alternative business model. It may repressent a social and political alternative as well.