MSN to shut chat rooms

[Calpitor]

Microsoft will be moving them to a subscription service in Canada, the United States and Japan see

[SuperSparks]

Here's an intersting take on it:

http://www.newswireless.net/articles...-chatroom.html

[Miz]

Although I've read or heard nothing to support my theory, I believe that potential lawsuits are at least part of the decision to close the MS chatrooms.

Since bashing, attacking and otherwise expressing hatred for Microsoft is a popular sport (few are hated more than the stunningly successful), I'm sure the MS legal department has realized that it's only a matter of time before lawsuits are filed, blaming the provider of chatrooms for whatever tragedy befell a child using them. For all I know, such suits have already been filed.

After all, somebody has to be blamed and the parents who failed to supervise their children's internet usage sure aren't going to accept responsibility.

Microsoft has deep pockets. It is a prime candidate for such a lawsuit and I think that has a lot to do with their decision to scale down and exert more control over their chatrooms.

[photolady]

My brother and I were discussing this last evening on the phone. Evidently, he was confused about what M$ was talking about. He didn't understand when I told him, only the chat rooms and where, not messenger. Thanks for the links, I've sent him via email a portion that explains what he couldn't understand.

[jenae]

Hi I would like to think MS were doing this for the right moral reasons,and I am sure Miz's obsevation has some bearing on the decision,however I fear the article posted by Nick is closer to the truth.MS chat room could at least be moderated,there are too many alternatives, and the fact remains that most child molestation occurs in relation with the extended family or friends of the victims parents.

[Calpitor]

Originally posted by jenae
MS chat room could at least be moderated,

The last line of the article I linked to stated of the 3 or 4 chat rooms left each would be moderated. A little known fact is that this is something the R.C.M.P. has been doing surreptitiously for at least the past three years. A couple of cases in recent history where the R.C.M.P.'s involvement was instrumental: Peter Townsend's arrest for kiddie porn and another where a Californian Circuit Court Judge was brought up on charges of being a purveyor of child pornography. The judges case in particular he was caught by the R.C.M.P. not only sharing these disturbing videos and images through P2P programs but there were volumes of logs from his chats in private rooms presumably with little girls aged 11 through 14. California incidentally threw the case out citing the evidence was obtained by violating the judge's right to privacy.

While the right to privacy is an issue I would normally jump to defend, where these sick b@st@rds are concerned I would welcome and applaud any nation's efforts to curtail their activity up to and including dragging their sorry butts out of bed in the middle of night and having them shot.

[MacNews]

Originally posted by Calpitor
Microsoft will be moving them to a subscription service in Canada, the United States and Japan see

M$ is getting too greedy...