Microsoft to close down chatrooms

Well here's the story from NTLs(my ISP)home page:

Microsoft to close down chatrooms
2003-09-24 06:39:25

The Microsoft computer firm is s******** most of its Internet chatrooms to stop paedophiles grooming children on-line.

The sites will be closed on October 14 following worldwide concern about the risks youngsters run using home computers without their parents' knowledge.

The only services Microsoft will operate in future will be monitored by the firm, or run on a subscription basis so that users are easy to trace.

Children's charities have welcomed the decision by the computer giant.

Chris Atkinson, Internet safety expert at the NSPCC, said: "This announcement is a very positive step forward and will help close a major supply line for sex abusers who go to great lengths to gain access to innocent children by grooming them on the Internet

"For too long we have been told by the Internet industry that chatrooms are global and that nothing could be done to stop their escalation and their use by adults who target children."

John Carr, an Internet adviser to the charity NCH, added: "There has been a very substantial increase in sex abuse cases as a result of contacts made through chatrooms.

"The men who commit these crimes often target girls aged 13 to 14 and make out they are only two or three years older in order to win them over.

"They groom them over time and manipulate the child's emotions so they come to think of them as their best friend."

Matt Whittingham, head of customer satisfaction at MSN UK, said: "Most people treat this type of service with respect but we have found that chatrooms - and not only ours - are increasingly being used for inappropriate communications.

"Many of those using chatrooms are young and interested in sex and going out. Unfortunately we know paedophiles have exploited this and the freedom they get from chatrooms to target children.

"We have had enough of our services being used in this way which is why we have decided to close those which are free and not monitored."

Just wondered what your thoughts on this are. Will you miss those chatrooms at all lol. Is it really aimed at 'curbing paedophiles from grooming children' or a new ploy to start charging more money for a service they alreay provide??

(cynically) quote : "The only services Microsoft will operate in future will be monitored by the firm, or run on a subscription basis so that users are easy to trace"