Microsoft Denies HTTPS Shutdown Was Intentional

jbrodkin writes "Microsoft acknowledged that Hotmail's HTTPS encryption service was shut off for users in some countries, but denied that it was because of an intentional ploy to limit email security in countries that have experienced anti-government protests and limits on freedom of expression. 'We do not intentionally limit support by region or geography and this issue was not restricted to any specific region of the world,' Microsoft said. Syria, Morocco, Bahrain, Iran, Lebanon, Jordan and Algeria were among the affected countries, but the problem is now resolved."

I'm inclined to believe them

[darien.train]

I'm not sure in what context I can imagine MS agreeing to turn off HTTPS to serve these dictators. There are better ways to help a dictator than change something that everyone can clearly see.

Re:Wow. what a coincidence.

[Anonymous Coward]

Do you mean coincidence that /. and other press only focused on the small list of ones that had unrest and didn't bother to list all the of other countries affected? or coincidence that people choose to comment on it like it was a fact without actually checking?

They didn't shut off HTTPS

[lseltzer]

People who had opted into HTTPS in all these countries could still use it [windowslivehelp.com]. It's just that other users couldn't opt in. And they fixed it quickly when it was brought up. Why would anyone suppose it was intentional? And the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, and Fiji were also affected. I suppose Microsoft was sucking up to their dictators?