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Microsoft's decision to close the unmoderated chatrooms on its MSN Internet service made the headlines in the UK's daily newspapers. Few things can beat the spectre of perverts preying on unsuspecting children online to sell tabloids.

The software giant claims it's acting responsibly in
taking the stand. Gillian Kent, Director of Microsoft's MSN UK, said the move was taken with "the aim of protecting users from unsolicited information such as spam, and to help safeguard children from inappropriate communication online."

She said that Microsoft "felt it necessary to make these changes because online chat services are increasingly being misused."

MSN UK issued a statement in which John Carr, Director of the Children & Technology Unit at NCH and Internet Adviser to the Children's Charities' Coalition for Internet Safety, said Microsoft "should be congratulated on the leadership position it has taken". He added: "Open, free unmoderated chat cannot be made completely safe for consumers and children."

Chris Atkinson, Policy Advisor for the NSPCC, said that the charity hoped the move would "encourage the Internet industry to build on MSN's announcement and continue to work together to improve the Internet experience for children."

But while Microsoft tried to put a positive spin on the move, others were more dubious of its motives. First, critics argue that closing down MSN's chatrooms won't stop young people chatting online. They will simply go elsewhere. Where else? Well, evidently, that isn't Microsoft's problem.

The company need no longer

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fret about the bad publicity that might result from a paedophile 'grooming' victims using MSN. Rather than introducing human moderators or some other safeguard that might actually cost money, Microsoft has pulled the plug altogether.

Instant chat is one of the Internet's biggest crowd-pullers. And it's especially popular with schoolkids, who can adopt online personalities and chat to friends - or, indeed, people they don't know, and who may not be who they claim to be online.

While the potential for danger in online chatrooms is well known, the vast majority of users are perfectly innocent. A few simple guidelines, and the involvement of parents in children's online activities, should reduce any risks to virtually nil. It's what the kids get up to when mum's back is turned, or when parents are less supervisory, that may cause concern.

This is why the responsible service provider will moderate chatrooms to keep out undesirables and look out for people who may not be quite what they seem. In fact, tracking suspicious posts on moderated chatrooms has proved to be one of the ways in which police can track down potential offenders online.

By simply closing down its MSN chat services, Microsoft is seen by some to be walking away from the problem, rather than taking a lead and doing something useful.

Microsoft's critics also suggest that the company
may have a darker intention. Microsoft has often pioneered free services, which gradually become less free as the number of people using them grows. Users of its Hotmail Web-based mail service have seen their mailbox space shrink in an effort to encourage users to pay for premium services.

Now, say critics, the company has seen the use of instant messaging explode, thanks to the fact that its Messenger software comes free with Windows. But Microsoft is unwilling to stump up for the true cost of running instant messaging services safely. Shutting chatrooms will not only save Microsoft money in the short term - it may allow it to introduce a paid-for service in the future.

Microsoft, of course, claims its move is about kids, not cash. The question is: do you agree?