US Takes Microsoft’s Side in the War Against Russia

[Exterminator]

Russia has blocked access to LinkedIn last week, and while Microsoft’s struggling to resolve the problems its newly-purchased service has in the country, United States officials also step in to take the side of the Redmond-based software giant.

Maria Olson, spokeswoman at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, expressed public concerns that banning LinkedIn could set a dangerous precedent in Russia, as the country could then proceed to blocking other services as well. This could only harm competition and local users, she was quoted as saying by Reuters.

“The United States is deeply concerned by Russia’s decision to block access to the website LinkedIn,” she said. “This decision is the first of its kind and sets a troubling precedent that could be used to justify shutting down any website that contains Russian user data.”

Russia says LinkedIn can resolve its problems in the country
On the other hand, Russia says the LinkedIn ban can be lifted only if the service complies with regulations and moves data of Russia users on servers that are located within the country’s borders.

Russian Communications Minister Nikolai Nikiforov expressed in a statement that the decision to block LinkedIn was made by courts, and not by the country itself.

“We hope a constructive dialogue can solve this situation,” he was quoted as saying. “All foreign companies have to act in line with the law and there are many that have no problems with respecting the legislation.”

On the other hand, LinkedIn says that it’s indeed interesting in lifting restrictions on its service and the company wants to meet with Russian officials and address the matter. LinkedIn previously said that it scheduled a November 11 meeting with Russia, but for some reason, this didn’t take place.

LinkedIn currently has 6 million users in Russia and whoever attempts to connect to the service these days is hit with a message saying that “Access to the resource you requested is restricted.”

 

[Fritz]

Yes, it's the law. So were the Gulags in Stalin's time and his evil twin's concentration camps. I think we all know those laws are not supposed to protect the Russian people from evil outside its borders.

If the rest of the world had a pair, they'd strip them off every service there is. Seriously. You just escaped communism, yet all you can muster is running off to the ballot box to vote for another dictator? Fine, have at it. Just do it without McD's, Amazon, Facebook, Google and whatever other service or business that enriched your life whenever you had a clear moment. Na sdarovye and good riddance.

 

[_CyberGhosT_]

So for Russia it's all about accessing the data of the users and nothing more.
What a bunch of babies, submit the legal documents requesting access and I am more than sure US
and MS entities will comply. The only logical reason to go to these lengths is because they are butt hurt
that they can't skirt the current laws that govern access to the data because of the geographical location
of those data servers. Screw them, It sounds weird taking up for MS but Putin will not bully MS without a
fight and I am glad to see MS & the US pretty much standing firm.

 

[JohanSteensen]

I think this is a temporary limitation. it is possible that a new political relationship with the new US President will improve the situation.

 

[Fritz]

I highly doubt it. Putin doesn't want to loosen his grip on those who oppose him, just like Erdoğan in Turkey.

 

[Vipersd]

Same was done with Facebook in EU, their servers are in Ireland. Many countries now don't want companies that operate with all that personal data to have servers in USA. Many companies chose Ireland for their Europian base of operations.

 

[Fritz]

@Vipersd I'm not sure if you're comparing EU and Russian law. In case you are, there's a big difference. The EU doesn't want it because of a lack of privacy, Putin doesn't want it because of too much privacy.

 

[jamescv7]

Russian Communications Minister Nikolai Nikiforov expressed in a statement that the decision to block LinkedIn was made by courts, and not by the country itself.

Rules are rules, remember that the point of view like privacy as example are different to others. So you cannot please the others within a different view.

A matter of agree and disagree argument only.

 

[Vipersd]

Post 9/11 there is mass histeria in government's about surveilling it's own citizens with premise to catch terrorist's. What they know but disregard is human rights violations in the interest of "greater good". So every country is spying to it's citizens, look at the law that was pased in UK. Western countries are not as democratic as they proclaim they are.

 

[AtlBo]

Post 9/11 there is mass histeria in government's about surveillance it's own citizens with premise to catch terrorist's. What they know but disregard is human rights violations in the interest of "greater good". So every country is spying to it's citizens, look at the law that was pased in UK. Western countries are not as democratic as they proclaim they are.

I agree. This is true, and the U.S. is the worst offender imo. Putin is playing with the U.S. in this case, I feel, but I won't underestimate him. He is very shrewd and a very proud patriot of his country. This was passed by the courts, but I doubt he'd have seen it any differently.

I saw a few years ago that Putin's approval rating in Russia was at 94%. How can this be anything but respected? It's now still at 82%. Is this the approval rating of a leader of an oppressed regime? Google "Putin approval rating" if you would like to see.

Rules are rules, remember that the point of view like privacy as example are different to others. So you cannot please the others within a different view.

I think is the correct view for this. Usually, I wouldn't say something like this, but I ask, "who is actually hurt?" Is it Putin (Russia/the Russian courts) or Microsoft? I feel it's a legitimate question. Microsoft will have to deal with the Russian courts on the Russian courts' own terms. That's the way it is, unless they change their minds in Russia. Who is going to change the way it is?