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Microsoft has announced that users in five countries will be blocked from using Windows Live Messenger.  The popular instant messaging service is now off limits to people living in Syria, North Korea, Iran, Sudan and Cuba.  All of those countries have U.S sanctions against them and are continued to be hostile or threatening to our national interests.

Microsoft declined to say why it had suddenly decided to shut down service now or exactly how many users would be affected.  All they would say is they do not do business in those countries.  Users in those countries who attempt to log in will be greeted with the error message “810003c1: We were unable to sign you in to the .NET Messenger Service.”  Users who research the error will find this explanation in the Messenger Support Space:

“Microsoft has discontinued providing Instant Messenger services in certain countries subject to United States sanctions. Details of these sanctions are available from the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control.”

It would be interesting to know what brought this about.  Pressure from the U.S. Government perhaps?  We may never know.

Read [PCWorld]