Mixed reaction has followed reports that Microsoft is closing down some Internet chat rooms.
Reuters reports that many groups welcomed the move. Microsoft has been under considerable pressure from the US child protection lobby to protect children from sex predators, according to some commentators.
Another site reports that industry rivals lambasted the company for "passing the buck on combating paedophiles and pornography", and some quote commentators accusing the vendor of operating solely on profit motives and wishing to escape legal action.
"By switching them off, Microsoft looks like they`re taking the moral high ground, but this is irresponsible," said Alex Kovach, Lycos MD for the UK and Ireland, quoted by FT.com. "Walking away from chat rooms will drive this underground; it`s up to the big players such as MSN to offer safe, moderated environments."
Microsoft will close all its MSN service`s chat rooms outside the US, Canada and Japan from 14 October. These customers` billing details are on record with Microsoft, making them more accountable, according to the company, but privacy advocates have criticised this.
In a message to users yesterday, the company said: "The increase in abuse of the Internet, such as the massive growth of spam and the increase in unsolicited and inappropriate material, particularly with regard to children, has led us to this decision."
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