10/06/2008

李嘉誠逼Skype亂華

Yahoo,TOM,不是唯一協助中國政府審查過濾或記錄中國網民政治言論的外資互聯網公司,正如楊致遠李嘉誠不是唯一加入中國政府網絡鎮壓行動的外資商人,雖然二人可能是其中最知名的國際級豪商巨富。

中國政府無孔不入無遠弗屆的互聯網監控系統如同一條繩索,串聯起許許多多國際知名或籍籍無名,高調顯形或潛藏隱形的互聯網公司及其老闆。國際輿論拉起其中一截線頭,先是牽出Yahoo,繼而拽出Skype及TOM,楊致遠與李嘉誠,由此逐一先後被從忙於數錢的幕後,推至道德審判的前台。

搶進中國互聯網市場掘金,首先必須在門口與中國政府簽訂魔鬼契約,加入網警聯盟,是業界心照不宣的公開的秘密,無論中資外資。

李嘉誠版Skype(TOM版,或曰中國版)後門事件東窗事發後,eBay旗下Skype美國公司發表聲明安撫非中國用戶,與TOM切割時,對此中國市場潛規則直認不諱:

The idea that the Chinese [government] might be monitoring communications in and out of the country shouldn’t surprise anyone, and in fact, it happens regularly with most forms of communication such as emails, traditional phone calls, and chats between people within China and between people communicating to people in China from other countries.

Skype總裁Josh Silverman也承認,對中國政府俯首聽命,是Skype或TOM於中國市場唯一生存之道:

TOM, just like any other communications company in China, has established procedures to meet local laws and regulations. These regulations include the requirement to monitor and block instant messages containing certain words deemed "offensive" by the Chinese authorities.

「遵守當地法律法規」,是助紂為虐,逃避道德責任的理直氣壯理由。此前,Yahoo引此為出賣師濤卸責,如今,百口莫辯的TOM,當然也執此為推諉之托詞

"as a Chinese company, we adhere to rules and regulations in China where we operate our businesses."

《紐約時報》於10月1日,中國國慶日,引述多倫多大學研究網絡審查的研究室一份報告踢爆,TOM主持運營的中國版Skype竟然過濾及記錄中國網民的政治言論,將涉及敏感政治言論的對話記錄及用戶個人資料儲存於伺服器上。而TOM是大中華區首富兼「愛國愛港商人」李嘉誠控股的公司,由李嘉誠二奶周凱旋全權掌舵。

"Just because a company has a good brand reputation outside of a repressive country, that doesn't mean that they're not going to hand over your information when asked"

因偶然之機偵知TOM-Skype的骯髒秘密,及後將之公諸於眾的的多倫多大學學者Nart Villeneuve,於加拿大報章Globe and Mail 訪問中警告網民,南橘北枳,在民主國家「不作惡」的互聯網公司,不等於在專制國家不會為五鬥米折腰。



李嘉誠及其西宮,TOM老闆娘周凱旋

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