September 25, 2003	Thursday	Rajab 27, 1424

LONDON, Sept 24: Microsoft is to shut down Internet chatrooms around the world out of fear they are being abused by paedophiles seeking access to children, the software giant announced on Wednesday.

The move was welcomed by children’s charities, but Britain’s leading Internet service provider Freeserve slammed the move as a “reckless” publicity stunt that would lead children to use less safe sites elsewhere.

Microsoft’s online subsidiary, MSN, said it would completely axe chatrooms in most countries from October 14.

A few nations, including the United States, would retain services, but these will either be monitored or subscription-only, meaning users have to first give personal details including a credit card number.

“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,” said Matt Whittingham, head of customer satisfaction at MSN UK.—AFP