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It's understandable? I didn't see Google agree to it? The fact remains Microsoft is all too happy to censor and monitor people in the name of the Government there if they think that will gain them an extra 1% market share. It's what they did with Bing, too, after Google tried to fight against the Government.

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Actually this happened way before Microsoft bought Skype. For Hotmail one used to only need change the country setting in his profile to make sure his data is out of Chinese jurisdiction. Quite handy, not sure how it works now though.

Really... Businesses should have political agendas and involve them selves in matters of state? That hasn't worked out so well in the past...

They do it all the time, at the very least in the form of lobbying. Sometimes they do public advocacy that is more direct. The affairs of state can affect a company in the same way that it can affect individuals, so it can be in the interest of business to butt heads with politicos.

I realise they do. I also realise they use it to maintain power, and undermine democracy and freedom... But should they?

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