9 ms·

Today Microsoft Banned My Country Iran from Minecraft

109 points by iosystem 2y ago

londons_explore 2y ago
> The Minecraft reddit moderators didn't even show my post, and downvoted it too. Real "inclusive" of you, guys. Inclusivity is selective... Always has been, always will be.
- bigstrat2003 2y ago
  "Inclusive" really just means "we are going to make sure to include people we have no problem with". As Scott Alexander eloquently put it in his essay "I Can Tolerate Anything Except The Outrgroup", this is because people's actual outgroup isn't the ones they are being "inclusive" to. Human nature hasn't changed, sadly.
iosystem 2y ago
[dead]
LinuxBender 2y ago
It would be up to Microsoft to say why they did it. It's probably buried somewhere in the sanction documents. [1] If Microsoft are complying with a sanction then perhaps they may have issues getting a refund, but could at least open a ticket to get an answer if they have not already. Maybe there is a corporate lawyer on here with experience in this matter? [1] - https://ofac.treasury.gov/sanctions-programs-and-country-information/iran-sanctions https://ofac.treasury.gov/sanctions-programs-and-country-inf...
- phone8675309 2y ago
  Why the flying fuck should sanctions infringe on someone's ability to play a game they already purchased?
  - ImJamal 2y ago
    Sanctions sometimes ban providing services to people in countries. Apparently Minecraft requires you to login (a service) to use the game. If the game was completely offline this wouldn't be a problem.
    - red_admiral 2y ago
      Barely a week goes by without some variant of "Iranian Hackers" in the tech/security press - maybe, inshallah, they could release a version that lets you play on Iran-hosted servers without needing to connect to the US for a login?
      - mmis1000 2y ago
        No, they don't need a 'new' client for that. That already exists. Since minecraft is basically open source, it's not really a secret that how to make a client that simply don't require login. (Surely you don't want to say it loud or legal team of MS is going to chase you hard, but lots of client just slip that function in silently) Besides that. The minecraft login is basically a license check allow you to join 'legal purchase required' server. And whether you want to enable the enforcement is up to server owner.
        kbolino 2y ago
        Open source means the developers release the source code willingly and encourage other people to use it. Minecraft is not now and never has been open source.
        mmis1000 2y ago
        They do release the source mapping of the java version alongside the binary. Which can be used to decompile the whole game back to compilable java file. (And you can fiddle it around starting from there). It's source available if you do own the game. So I say 'basically'. The bedrock version on the other hand is completely proprietary. With very little extension api exposed. So there is very few mods of them.
- dotnet00 2y ago
  I think the bigger point is that software you pay for, which requires a bannable login to use even the offline component, should not be allowed to exist.
- bastardoperator 2y ago
  Microsoft has been known to get around sanctions: https://github.blog/2021-01-05-advancing-developer-freedom-github-is-fully-available-in-iran/ https://github.blog/2021-01-05-advancing-developer-freedom-g...
  - John23832 2y ago
    Why would Microsoft want to go through the effort of securing a license to allow people to play a game? That is not worth the financial effort.
- toast0 2y ago
  It's possible to comply with sanctions and offer some services to people in Iran. It's been a while since I read the text, but I'd expect purchases and refunds are difficult, but allowing login should be ok in theory. On the other hand, actually doing it is a lot of compliance work, and some hosts block traffic to Iran by default. Could be that something changed in the hosting and it's going to take attention and time to get it back to opened up. Microsoft should know better, but...
londons_explore 2y ago
You'll be pleased to know that if you use a pirated copy, they won't come after you either...
- mehdix 2y ago
  The abundance of pirated software and the absence of international copyright law in Iran makes it difficulat to argue for free software over there. As a free software enthusiast it made me always somewhat sad, when I used to live there.
- thomastjeffery 2y ago
  Even for a moderately tech-savvy person, finding a usable crack of the most popular game ever is a treacherous task. Sailing the high seas as a layman is as risky today as it has ever been, especially after so many old hats (kickass, rarbg, etc.) have been decapitated by law enforcement. The most effective anti-piracy tool today is to prevent communities from actually earning trust and moderating content trackers.
  - xboxnolifes 2y ago
    Minecraft is likely one of the easiest popular games to find a crack for in existence. You just Google "reddit Minecraft cracked launcher" and you'll find the popular choices. Of course, you'll only be able to play on servers that do not authenticate accounts this way.
    - thomastjeffery 2y ago
      Yes, but what are the chances the one you choose comes with malware? Think of it this way: if I want to spread malware, what better way than a cracked Minecraft launcher?
      - xboxnolifes 2y ago
        > Yes, but what are the chances the one you choose comes with malware? These aren't 10 download, unknown group uploads. These launchers are used by thousands of people, and if you just go to the one with hundreds of upvotes on reddit it's the same risk as downloading any other kind of non-billion-dollar-company software. Cracked minecraft clients have been around for over a decade at this point, and third-party minecraft launchers are not a niche thing at all. Compromises have happened, but that's not unique to Minecraft. > Think of it this way: if I want to spread malware, what better way than a cracked Minecraft launcher? Fake leaked songs, videos, new video games, Roblox/Fortnite in-game currency generators, video streaming sites with malware ads...
gspencley 2y ago
> A children's block game is not going to help us build nukes or anything, so the sanctions excuse doesn't make sense especially since I already own it. While I agree with that sentiment, and while I admit that I don't know exactly what the sanctions entail, it is quite possible that this is a legal compliance issue and not strictly Microsoft's doing. And of course it could also be a "better safe than sorry" policy when it comes to legal compliance.
- mikestew 2y ago
  It's not all about preventing the creation of nuclear weapons. It's also about making sure the common person in $SANCTIONED_COUNTRY feels the pain. User UncleEntity says it better than I could in a comment that is buried a few levels: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40158797 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40158797
  - ryandrake 2y ago
    I'm sure these children, who just lost their beloved game character and in-game creations, are going to get right on the task of pressuring their government.
  - esprehn 2y ago
    That would seem to suggest countries should do extensive sanctions on wine and cheese?
    - mynameismon 2y ago
      I think its a metaphor alluding to the black market trades of the wealthy leaders?
    - philipov 2y ago
      Perhaps not the best turn of phrase, since alcohol is illegal in Iran. However, they can make their own cheese just fine.
    - rangerelf 2y ago
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
kjkjadksj 2y ago
Blame the new launcher from micro$oft. You used to be able to play offline with no account. Now you can’t even play offline apparently.
- barkbyte 2y ago
  [dead]
- cesarb 2y ago
  AFAIK, you still can play offline with alternative launchers like Prism Launcher (you need an account to do the initial setup and download, but once everything is downloaded, you can add as many offline accounts as you want), and the downloadable server still has a "do not validate the accounts online" option which allows offline users to connect and play.
  - SpaghettiCthulu 2y ago
    Not the most approachable option, but you can also setup a mod dev workspace and launch that way. Or download and launch the game directly with a `java -jar ...` comand.
unclad5968 2y ago
It is known and at least somewhat documented that some criminal organizations have used video games "for children" for communication. US intelligence agencies see multi-player video games as a way for terrorists to communicate, so it makes sense they would sanction if that's their fear.
- megous 2y ago
  Using a completely unprotected communication medium channelled via US located servers is a reason to monitor it. Pushing "terrorists" to better secured means of communication is no way helpful to the US.
dr-detroit 2y ago
[dead]
amluto 2y ago
I don’t play Minecraft, but I’ve noticed that there are plenty of what appear to be open source Minecraft clients and servers. Presumably one could connect an open source client to an open source server without any particular involvement from MS. It’s not even immediately obvious that doing so would infringe on any of MS’s rights. So why do people, especially in places like Iran, use Microsoft’s Minecraft implementation? Is it just ease of use?
- willismichael 2y ago
  I had my children playing one of the open source Minecraft clones for a few years, but after they saw all their friends playing Minecraft, they wanted the "real thing". It's not exactly the same game, and don't discount the value of shared experience with other people. Minecraft is as much about the community that you play with, and it's hard to get people to play an open source clone that sits in this uncanny valley of looking and playing just a little bit different than Minecraft.
  - thriftwy 2y ago
    The obvious answer is that either you eat it up and build an Iranian community based on the OSS thing, or use a VPN and conceal your connection to Iran. This is the way.
    - willismichael 2y ago
      Well, sure, that's the HN answer, and that's what I would do, but not everybody is as technically inclined to just jump in and build their own thing.
  - wizardwes 2y ago
    Also, the open source versions are usually MineTest based, which is less a game, and more an engine that you add mods to to make your minecraft. That's another added layer of complexity to deter beginners, even if more advanced players enjoy the freedom for customization
webdoodle 2y ago
Minecraft is a psyop platform used to cultivate certain personality types, to be exploited by other organizations that buy the data. Many intelligence organizations built them specifically to use them for recruiting tools. Iran being blocked suggests to me that the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence was using it too...
- jbm 2y ago
  So... when my daughter is building a train track and a house in the game, what specifically is the psychological effect that the intelligence services want?
  - sevagh 2y ago
    Trains? She's being indoctrinated to public transport socialism and won't buy a Ford F350.
- squigz 2y ago
  What a fascinatingly absurd claim. Do you have anything to back up this claim?
geff82 2y ago
From my experience with and in Iran: every western sanction leads to more products and services from China. Life becomes a bit more difficult, yes. But the government does what it wants to do. And China essentially takes over the economy. At the expense of the West. Is the Western behavior wise? I do not know. Sometimes, I hear a "boom" in the air, coming from far away. Those are the bottles of champagne that Chinese entrepreneurs open to celebrate new sanctions on Iran.
- Johnssmithss 2y ago
  Selling stuff to dictatorships is bad, even if you make money from it.
  - asdasdsddd 2y ago
    Sanctions have nothing to do with style of government, it's all about geopolitics.
  - geff82 2y ago
    Then what about ending all trade with China? Or what is the difference?
    - Johnssmithss 2y ago
      I would be happy to see a long-term plan to phase out trade with China. Of course that couldn't change from one day to the next, but I wouldn't mind a plan to phase out trade with countries like China.
  - thriftwy 2y ago
    It seems that most of the world (population- and GDP-wise) is drifting towards authoritarian rule with immutable Dear Leader. Russia, then Turkey, then China, India is arguably getting there too. You're placing Iran in the same bucket. Maghreb countries? Middle East? Central Asia? As far as dictatorships go, Iran actually has some political life. That would eventually make your position untenable.
s17n 2y ago
That'll show em.
resource_waste 2y ago
I just realized how scary this is. I've been pretty concerned about Microsoft since their quality is low and their customer service is AOL tier. My kid loves minecraft, I've made some cool worlds, my wife is/was into it. I have realized that everything ends, and I think Minecraft is going to end before and of us 3. It has got to be Greed at this point? Minecraft becomes p2p or similar. I'm really hoping the FOSS variants can catch up before its too late.
bitvoid 2y ago
For alternatives, there's always Vintage Story and Minetest. I consider the former a better Minecraft anyways.
lupusreal 2y ago
Good thing Java edition is a trivial game to pirate. Microsoft stole my legit copy of the game by demanding I sign up for a Microsoft account and accept a new TOS. So I downloaded a third party launcher and commented out the account verification code. There are also prebuilt "cracked" clients of course. Pirate servers with friends is more fun anyway, people can change their nicknames on a whim as they can on IRC/discord. And you don't have to worry about the built-in snitchware banning you for talking shit with your bros, or daring to be born in a country the state department is mad at.
tejohnso 2y ago
> Why have they banned us on a game and deprived it from us when we already bought it? Isn't that theft and illegal? You paid money, but it is possible that the transaction didn't come with full unencumbered ownership.
michelsedgh 2y ago
Instead of actually doing anything serious about the regime, they have chosen to do meaningless stuff that only strengthens the military dictatorship regime. I wonder what kickbacks the politicians get from literally helping them.
- pb7 2y ago
  Microsoft does this because of sanctions, not because the dictatorship is paying them off.
  - michelsedgh 2y ago
    Im not blaming microsoft, im blaming the leadership and their half-assed policies. They are forcing microsoft to have there meaningless sanctions blocking minecraft for example
mehdix 2y ago
One side effect of such bans is that when something stops working in Iran, you can't easily figure out whether it is blocked by the operators inside the country, or by the operators outside the country...
amusingimpala75 2y ago
Just to clarify, no it isn’t theft. For most games and software that cost money, you never really buy it, but rather you’re buying a license to use it, with strings attached for rules on the possibility of being banned, of which there is usually some vague, overarching “if the company feels like it” or “if the government asks us to” clause. Not saying that this is the way it should be, but at least read the ToS before agreeing to it.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

109 points by iosystem 2y ago

> The Minecraft reddit moderators didn't even show my post, and downvoted it too. Real "inclusive" of you, guys. Inclusivity is selective... Always has been, always will be.

bigstrat2003 2y ago
"Inclusive" really just means "we are going to make sure to include people we have no problem with". As Scott Alexander eloquently put it in his essay "I Can Tolerate Anything Except The Outrgroup", this is because people's actual outgroup isn't the ones they are being "inclusive" to. Human nature hasn't changed, sadly.

iosystem 2y ago

[dead]

LinuxBender 2y ago

It would be up to Microsoft to say why they did it. It's probably buried somewhere in the sanction documents. [1] If Microsoft are complying with a sanction then perhaps they may have issues getting a refund, but could at least open a ticket to get an answer if they have not already. Maybe there is a corporate lawyer on here with experience in this matter? [1] - https://ofac.treasury.gov/sanctions-programs-and-country-information/iran-sanctions https://ofac.treasury.gov/sanctions-programs-and-country-inf...

phone8675309 2y ago
Why the flying fuck should sanctions infringe on someone's ability to play a game they already purchased?
- ImJamal 2y ago
  Sanctions sometimes ban providing services to people in countries. Apparently Minecraft requires you to login (a service) to use the game. If the game was completely offline this wouldn't be a problem.
  - red_admiral 2y ago
    Barely a week goes by without some variant of "Iranian Hackers" in the tech/security press - maybe, inshallah, they could release a version that lets you play on Iran-hosted servers without needing to connect to the US for a login?
    - mmis1000 2y ago
      No, they don't need a 'new' client for that. That already exists. Since minecraft is basically open source, it's not really a secret that how to make a client that simply don't require login. (Surely you don't want to say it loud or legal team of MS is going to chase you hard, but lots of client just slip that function in silently) Besides that. The minecraft login is basically a license check allow you to join 'legal purchase required' server. And whether you want to enable the enforcement is up to server owner.
      - kbolino 2y ago
        Open source means the developers release the source code willingly and encourage other people to use it. Minecraft is not now and never has been open source.
        mmis1000 2y ago
        They do release the source mapping of the java version alongside the binary. Which can be used to decompile the whole game back to compilable java file. (And you can fiddle it around starting from there). It's source available if you do own the game. So I say 'basically'. The bedrock version on the other hand is completely proprietary. With very little extension api exposed. So there is very few mods of them.
dotnet00 2y ago
I think the bigger point is that software you pay for, which requires a bannable login to use even the offline component, should not be allowed to exist.
bastardoperator 2y ago
Microsoft has been known to get around sanctions: https://github.blog/2021-01-05-advancing-developer-freedom-github-is-fully-available-in-iran/ https://github.blog/2021-01-05-advancing-developer-freedom-g...
- John23832 2y ago
  Why would Microsoft want to go through the effort of securing a license to allow people to play a game? That is not worth the financial effort.
toast0 2y ago
It's possible to comply with sanctions and offer some services to people in Iran. It's been a while since I read the text, but I'd expect purchases and refunds are difficult, but allowing login should be ok in theory. On the other hand, actually doing it is a lot of compliance work, and some hosts block traffic to Iran by default. Could be that something changed in the hosting and it's going to take attention and time to get it back to opened up. Microsoft should know better, but...

londons_explore 2y ago

You'll be pleased to know that if you use a pirated copy, they won't come after you either...

mehdix 2y ago
The abundance of pirated software and the absence of international copyright law in Iran makes it difficulat to argue for free software over there. As a free software enthusiast it made me always somewhat sad, when I used to live there.
thomastjeffery 2y ago
Even for a moderately tech-savvy person, finding a usable crack of the most popular game ever is a treacherous task. Sailing the high seas as a layman is as risky today as it has ever been, especially after so many old hats (kickass, rarbg, etc.) have been decapitated by law enforcement. The most effective anti-piracy tool today is to prevent communities from actually earning trust and moderating content trackers.
- xboxnolifes 2y ago
  Minecraft is likely one of the easiest popular games to find a crack for in existence. You just Google "reddit Minecraft cracked launcher" and you'll find the popular choices. Of course, you'll only be able to play on servers that do not authenticate accounts this way.
  - thomastjeffery 2y ago
    Yes, but what are the chances the one you choose comes with malware? Think of it this way: if I want to spread malware, what better way than a cracked Minecraft launcher?
    - xboxnolifes 2y ago
      > Yes, but what are the chances the one you choose comes with malware? These aren't 10 download, unknown group uploads. These launchers are used by thousands of people, and if you just go to the one with hundreds of upvotes on reddit it's the same risk as downloading any other kind of non-billion-dollar-company software. Cracked minecraft clients have been around for over a decade at this point, and third-party minecraft launchers are not a niche thing at all. Compromises have happened, but that's not unique to Minecraft. > Think of it this way: if I want to spread malware, what better way than a cracked Minecraft launcher? Fake leaked songs, videos, new video games, Roblox/Fortnite in-game currency generators, video streaming sites with malware ads...

gspencley 2y ago

> A children's block game is not going to help us build nukes or anything, so the sanctions excuse doesn't make sense especially since I already own it. While I agree with that sentiment, and while I admit that I don't know exactly what the sanctions entail, it is quite possible that this is a legal compliance issue and not strictly Microsoft's doing. And of course it could also be a "better safe than sorry" policy when it comes to legal compliance.

mikestew 2y ago
It's not all about preventing the creation of nuclear weapons. It's also about making sure the common person in $SANCTIONED_COUNTRY feels the pain. User UncleEntity says it better than I could in a comment that is buried a few levels: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40158797 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40158797
- ryandrake 2y ago
  I'm sure these children, who just lost their beloved game character and in-game creations, are going to get right on the task of pressuring their government.
- esprehn 2y ago
  That would seem to suggest countries should do extensive sanctions on wine and cheese?
  - mynameismon 2y ago
    I think its a metaphor alluding to the black market trades of the wealthy leaders?
  - philipov 2y ago
    Perhaps not the best turn of phrase, since alcohol is illegal in Iran. However, they can make their own cheese just fine.
  - rangerelf 2y ago

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

kjkjadksj 2y ago

Blame the new launcher from micro$oft. You used to be able to play offline with no account. Now you can’t even play offline apparently.

barkbyte 2y ago
[dead]
cesarb 2y ago
AFAIK, you still can play offline with alternative launchers like Prism Launcher (you need an account to do the initial setup and download, but once everything is downloaded, you can add as many offline accounts as you want), and the downloadable server still has a "do not validate the accounts online" option which allows offline users to connect and play.
- SpaghettiCthulu 2y ago
  Not the most approachable option, but you can also setup a mod dev workspace and launch that way. Or download and launch the game directly with a `java -jar ...` comand.

unclad5968 2y ago

It is known and at least somewhat documented that some criminal organizations have used video games "for children" for communication. US intelligence agencies see multi-player video games as a way for terrorists to communicate, so it makes sense they would sanction if that's their fear.

megous 2y ago
Using a completely unprotected communication medium channelled via US located servers is a reason to monitor it. Pushing "terrorists" to better secured means of communication is no way helpful to the US.

dr-detroit 2y ago

[dead]

amluto 2y ago

I don’t play Minecraft, but I’ve noticed that there are plenty of what appear to be open source Minecraft clients and servers. Presumably one could connect an open source client to an open source server without any particular involvement from MS. It’s not even immediately obvious that doing so would infringe on any of MS’s rights. So why do people, especially in places like Iran, use Microsoft’s Minecraft implementation? Is it just ease of use?

willismichael 2y ago
I had my children playing one of the open source Minecraft clones for a few years, but after they saw all their friends playing Minecraft, they wanted the "real thing". It's not exactly the same game, and don't discount the value of shared experience with other people. Minecraft is as much about the community that you play with, and it's hard to get people to play an open source clone that sits in this uncanny valley of looking and playing just a little bit different than Minecraft.
- thriftwy 2y ago
  The obvious answer is that either you eat it up and build an Iranian community based on the OSS thing, or use a VPN and conceal your connection to Iran. This is the way.
  - willismichael 2y ago
    Well, sure, that's the HN answer, and that's what I would do, but not everybody is as technically inclined to just jump in and build their own thing.
- wizardwes 2y ago
  Also, the open source versions are usually MineTest based, which is less a game, and more an engine that you add mods to to make your minecraft. That's another added layer of complexity to deter beginners, even if more advanced players enjoy the freedom for customization

webdoodle 2y ago

Minecraft is a psyop platform used to cultivate certain personality types, to be exploited by other organizations that buy the data. Many intelligence organizations built them specifically to use them for recruiting tools. Iran being blocked suggests to me that the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence was using it too...

jbm 2y ago
So... when my daughter is building a train track and a house in the game, what specifically is the psychological effect that the intelligence services want?
- sevagh 2y ago
  Trains? She's being indoctrinated to public transport socialism and won't buy a Ford F350.
squigz 2y ago
What a fascinatingly absurd claim. Do you have anything to back up this claim?

geff82 2y ago

From my experience with and in Iran: every western sanction leads to more products and services from China. Life becomes a bit more difficult, yes. But the government does what it wants to do. And China essentially takes over the economy. At the expense of the West. Is the Western behavior wise? I do not know. Sometimes, I hear a "boom" in the air, coming from far away. Those are the bottles of champagne that Chinese entrepreneurs open to celebrate new sanctions on Iran.

Johnssmithss 2y ago
Selling stuff to dictatorships is bad, even if you make money from it.
- asdasdsddd 2y ago
  Sanctions have nothing to do with style of government, it's all about geopolitics.
- geff82 2y ago
  Then what about ending all trade with China? Or what is the difference?
  - Johnssmithss 2y ago
    I would be happy to see a long-term plan to phase out trade with China. Of course that couldn't change from one day to the next, but I wouldn't mind a plan to phase out trade with countries like China.
- thriftwy 2y ago
  It seems that most of the world (population- and GDP-wise) is drifting towards authoritarian rule with immutable Dear Leader. Russia, then Turkey, then China, India is arguably getting there too. You're placing Iran in the same bucket. Maghreb countries? Middle East? Central Asia? As far as dictatorships go, Iran actually has some political life. That would eventually make your position untenable.

s17n 2y ago

That'll show em.

resource_waste 2y ago

I just realized how scary this is. I've been pretty concerned about Microsoft since their quality is low and their customer service is AOL tier. My kid loves minecraft, I've made some cool worlds, my wife is/was into it. I have realized that everything ends, and I think Minecraft is going to end before and of us 3. It has got to be Greed at this point? Minecraft becomes p2p or similar. I'm really hoping the FOSS variants can catch up before its too late.

bitvoid 2y ago

For alternatives, there's always Vintage Story and Minetest. I consider the former a better Minecraft anyways.

lupusreal 2y ago

Good thing Java edition is a trivial game to pirate. Microsoft stole my legit copy of the game by demanding I sign up for a Microsoft account and accept a new TOS. So I downloaded a third party launcher and commented out the account verification code. There are also prebuilt "cracked" clients of course. Pirate servers with friends is more fun anyway, people can change their nicknames on a whim as they can on IRC/discord. And you don't have to worry about the built-in snitchware banning you for talking shit with your bros, or daring to be born in a country the state department is mad at.

tejohnso 2y ago

> Why have they banned us on a game and deprived it from us when we already bought it? Isn't that theft and illegal? You paid money, but it is possible that the transaction didn't come with full unencumbered ownership.

michelsedgh 2y ago

Instead of actually doing anything serious about the regime, they have chosen to do meaningless stuff that only strengthens the military dictatorship regime. I wonder what kickbacks the politicians get from literally helping them.

pb7 2y ago
Microsoft does this because of sanctions, not because the dictatorship is paying them off.
- michelsedgh 2y ago
  Im not blaming microsoft, im blaming the leadership and their half-assed policies. They are forcing microsoft to have there meaningless sanctions blocking minecraft for example

mehdix 2y ago

One side effect of such bans is that when something stops working in Iran, you can't easily figure out whether it is blocked by the operators inside the country, or by the operators outside the country...

amusingimpala75 2y ago

Just to clarify, no it isn’t theft. For most games and software that cost money, you never really buy it, but rather you’re buying a license to use it, with strings attached for rules on the possibility of being banned, of which there is usually some vague, overarching “if the company feels like it” or “if the government asks us to” clause. Not saying that this is the way it should be, but at least read the ToS before agreeing to it.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]