News MSN shuts down its chatrooms [Updated]

From the Beeb:

Microsoft's internet service MSN is to drastically cut back its chatroom services because of concerns about child safety.

MSN is closing all its chatrooms in Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and most of Asia from 14 October, and changing the way others are operated globally.

"As a responsible leader we feel it necessary to make these changes because online chat services are increasingly being misused," they said.

Children's charities welcomed the move as "momentous" and said they saw it as a big step towards protecting young web users.

Full story here

Why only the countries specified? Why not globally? isn't grooming a worldwide problem? and why close? why not enforce the same rules for sign up as they are in the states (credit card as proof of age).

And won't this just send the 'Groomers' onto other internet media? What's next - the closure of forums and IRC? the banning of e-mail?

More coverage at the Reg: MSN torches chatrooms
And over at Wired: Microsoft to Shut Down Chat Rooms

 

does that mean msn messenger is getting shut down too?

 

No.

 

I'll all for this unless there specialised like bit-tech and computer modding.

 

pfff.......... yea cause im sure everything in the world has top be hardware oreintated for anyone to like it!!

 

Microsoft chat move 'irresponsible'

Follow up article at the Beeb:

Microsoft's decision to close the free, unmoderated chatrooms of its MSN internet service has sparked strong reactions.
Children's charities have welcomed the move as a positive step to ensuring children's safety online.

But major net service providers have criticised the action as "irresponsible" and say it is driven by economic concerns rather than keeping children safe.

Net experts have also warned it could drive vulnerable young people to other unmoderated chatrooms on the net.

Full story here

This must replace the previous story as that link now 404's

I have to say, the financial reason for closing MSN Chat did cross my mind. I would say that it's still profitable in the US market - hence it still being open.

 

i can see wat they re trying to do but maybe they are just goin about it in the wrong way.............

 

Since when have ms cared about the well being of others

Anyway, if people want to get hold of children on the internet they will do it other ways. Groups, email, forums, messengers etc

 

MSN messenger would never close, look at the advertising Microsoft can plug using it...!

 

I hate it when people say MS are closing ALL their chatrooms cus of PAEODOPHILIA.

Theyre closing UNMODERATED ones because of SPAM and STRATEGIC INTERESTS.

Thats what the announcement said.

Rant: www.loply.com/view.php?page=content_rants/ban_irc.php

 

I think it is costing M$ a ton of money to keep the servers up. I dont think they are heroes, its just money

 

I think it's juet very very clever PR from the M$ people.

Look at us parents, we are really concerned about your childs safety - yeah right gimme a break.

As mentioned before this will only drive kids into less moderated and potentioally more dangerous chatrooms etc.

 

Damn straight. All this means is that kids will move onto un-moderated chat mediums which means the problem can only get worse.

IMO money was not the issue here, MS just don't want to be in the spotlight should anything arise from the services they provide.

 

Yeah, after all they are already in the spotlight almost monthly with all their OS vulnerabilities

 

I can't help but thinking that if they are concerned about children being targetted by paedophiles on their chatrooms, that this is only after some of their legal dept. people explained to M$ the concept of l i a b i l i t y . It is only a matter of time before parents sue the chatroom where they feel their child was put at risk.