Yahoo, Microsoft Confirm China Is Blocking Services
Microsoft and Yahoo on Tuesday confirmed that China is blocking some of their Web-based services, two days before the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.
Consumers in China are currently unable to access Microsoft's Bing and Live search services and its Hotmail e-mail, and Yahoo's Flickr photo-sharing service. There are also reports that micro-blogging site Twitter is unavailable as well.
"We understand the Chinese government is blocking access to Flickr and other international sites, though the government has not issued any explanation," a Yahoo spokesman said in an e-mail. "We believe a broad restriction without a legal basis is inconsistent with the right to freedom of expression." A Microsoft executive said his company's services were also being affected.
