Microsoft's decision to close down its chat rooms around the world has been met with deep cynicism within the internet community.
The company is to close all open and unmoderated chat rooms in the UK, Europe, Latin America and Asia from 14 October.
But because MSN will continue to operate moderated chatrooms in the US, Canada and Japan as a subscription-based service, industry experts are suggesting that the real motive is financial.
Ian Brown, director of the Foundation for Information Policy Research, which promotes public debate about the policy implications of new developments in technology, called the announcement an "hysterical" overreaction if the motive is to protect children online.
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