Microsoft “blocks” donations to the Free Software Foundation

In a rather interesting as well as concerning note made by a Reddit user, it has came to public light that Microsoft is blocking the page for donation to the Free Software Foundation (FSF).

All the security products of Microsoft are reportedly branding the donation page of the Free Software Foundation as a ‘Gambling’ page. The news first emerged as a developer tried to donate to FSF after hearing that the baggage of Richard Stallman (FSF founder) was stolen while he was in Argentina.

For those that don’t know, FSF is can be considered to be an initiative to promote the creation and modification of software which is both free-to-use and re-distribute. Obviously, the action by Microsoft, may it be intentional or unintentional, is a very concerning move and has already received tons of negative reactions from both FSF supporters and other analysts.

FSF representatives, in their public statements, condemned the action by Microsoft severely and said that this is actually like depriving FSF of its funds by Microsoft; and obviously many users will not be able to donate to the FSF due to this silly problem created by Microsoft.

I hope Microsoft will correct its mistake soon and hope that FSF will at least get a verbal apology if not monetary compensation from Microsoft; but I leave it to you to speculate and comment on Microsoft’s fault (or whatever it may be called).

[via BBC News]

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