MSN is blocking YouTube links.

Rei Ayanami

Pilot Evangelion Unit-00
#1
http://taids.com/2008/05/10/msn-messenger-filteringblocking-youtube-links/

News said:
Have you noticed that Microsoft is blocking all messages on their MSN Messenger service that contain YouTube links?

Try it. Send a message that contains a YouTube link. http://youtube.com/ will do. Did it bounce?

This issue has only cropped up this morning. It was fine last night. It seems to be on a service level, as third party clients are also affected.

The following appear to be blocked:

http://youtube.com
http://youtube.com/
http://www.youtube.com
http://www.youtube.com/
https://youtube.com/
www.youtube.com
www.youtube.com/

Whereas these get through:

ftp://youtube.com/
ww.youtube.com/
youtube.com/

The best solution seems to be substituting youtube.com with one of YouTube’s IP addresses:

* 208.65.153.251
* 208.65.153.253
* 208.65.153.238

http://208.65.153.251/ works, for example. As does http://208.65.153.251/watch?v=LggIrtnWZzk.

This isn’t the first time Microsoft has actively censored conversations. In 2005 there was uproar over certain keywords being blocked.

Whether the block is permanent or not remains to be seen. I can’t imagine Google will stand for it. As for the reason, I’m not sure. Perhaps there’s some tenuous link with the recent withdrawl of Microsoft’s bid to buy Yahoo. Maybe there’s some new worm spreading around masquerading itself as YouTube video links. Absurd, I know. But why else would it happen?

In the meantime, the block is a mixed blessing. There are days when I get continuously barraged with endless video links from all directions — so much so that I was considering declaring YouTube-free days where I wouldn’t watch any videos I was sent.

On the other hand, there is no reason why I shouldn’t be able to send or receive video links. It is censorship. Simple as.
Figured I'd post this here since a lot of people use MSN.

Yep, it seems it's getting blocked. I have no idea if it's intentional or not, but it's still very weird.
 

Kenzou

pink spider
#8
mediafire being blocked drives me crazy. I always upload stuff for friends on msn and i have to use tinyurl every time.