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submitted 3 days ago by gnawmon@ttrpg.network to c/gaming@beehaw.org

Recently the server staff received an e-mail telling them to moderate the Discord server and the server chat on what they deem to be "appropriate."

Below is a message from owner of the server.

Free Speech Under Attack

Dear friends, I don't often post announcements of this sort, but I feel it's very important for you all to know what's currently going on.

From the very start, over 15 years ago, one of the key founding principles of MinecraftOnline has been free speech. What started out as an uncontroversal, common sense policy, has proved to be a cornerstone of this increasingly unique community. As time has passed and Western society has wavered back and forth in its political leanings, free speech has repeatedly come under attack for political reasons. It has now become common to see arrests for posts on social media in countries such as Britain and Germany, in the name of political control, which have overtaken the numbers even of traditionally totalitarian countries such as China and Russia - a truly dystopian nightmare for freedom of expression and personal liberty.

Throughout this decade and a half of change, MinecraftOnline has held steadfast to its libertarian principles, and remained an oasis of freedom and openness in an increasingly closed and controlled internet. That is, until now.

Microsoft, through their subsidiary Mojang, have issued an ultimatum to MinecraftOnline. We have been told to do away with our free speech policy (which long pre-dates Microsoft's acquisition of Mojang), within 7 days, or face a a permanent block. If that happens, nobody will be able to play on MinecraftOnline again, and the 15-year history of this beloved server will come to a sudden and bitter end. The full email we have received today, signed facelessly only as "Mojang Enforcement", is included below.

The email makes extremely vague claims about "harmful interactions" and "harmful comments", and we are asking Microsoft to clarify what specific interactions and comments they consider harmful. In the meantime, please spread the word, share this info on social media. Defend free speech.

-SlowRiot

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[-] Routhinator@startrek.website 3 points 2 days ago

Luanti (Minetest) folks.

The modding momentum is picking up quite a bit and as a game engine its far better than Minecraft.

[-] stray@pawb.social 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

This thread title is inaccurate and misleading to people unfamiliar with how Minecraft hosting works. Microsoft can't shut down a private server. Even the OOP themself doesn't phrase it that way in any of their posts about it.

Yes, they can — Minecraft consults a Microsoft-managed, dynamically updatable blocklist of server IPs, regardless of who owns the server. In addition, Minecraft has functionality to ban players from authenticating to any multiplayer server.

[-] stray@pawb.social 2 points 1 day ago

Microsoft does not have the ability to stop you from running a Minecraft server. They can block you from using their authentication server, but all you have to do is edit a setting to false and then even people with pirated copies can join the server.

[-] PoolloverNathan@programming.dev 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

This still doesn't help if the server is on the server blocklist, which Microsoft can add your server to. Mods that disable the blocklist violate the EULA.

[-] stray@pawb.social 1 points 1 day ago

What part of the EULA would that violate? And why would that matter when the goal is to join an EULA-violating server in the first place?

[-] danielhanrahantng@beehaw.org 2 points 1 day ago

I hope 2b2t does not get shutdown next.

[-] TheAlbatross 87 points 3 days ago

Ngl, whenever "libertarians" get their hackles up about needing a right to "free speech", I always suspect they mean bigotry and slurs.

[-] GammaGames@beehaw.org 40 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Yup, seems like they want to run a nazi bar. From their wiki (archive):

nothing that a player can type in public chat (aside from the exceptions given below) can result in a  ban or any form of official reprimand. You will not be banned for anything you say, aside from spamming. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Swearing;
  • Personal attacks;
  • Racial or cultural insults;
  • Asking to be banned.

It’s worded a little confusingly, but there is a list of exceptions further down the page. The server is hosted in Germany so the expected symbols are removed if built in-game, but most of the other exceptions are to keep the game playable.

[-] curbstickle@anarchist.nexus 15 points 3 days ago

Made almost the same comment in the cross post that was made of this.

Definitely comes across like an excuse to be racist AF.

[-] GammaGames@beehaw.org 8 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

From another comment it sounds like there is pushback from users when someone behaves poorly, which is good, but I don’t see why anyone would want that experience to be the norm. Just libertarian things I guess

[-] Deyis@beehaw.org 1 points 1 day ago

I was shooting heroin and reading “The Fountainhead” in the front seat of my privately owned police cruiser when a call came in. I put a quarter in the radio to activate it. It was the chief.

“Bad news, detective. We got a situation.”

“What? Is the mayor trying to ban trans fats again?”

“Worse. Somebody just stole four hundred and forty-seven million dollars’ worth of bitcoins.”

The heroin needle practically fell out of my arm. “What kind of monster would do something like that? Bitcoins are the ultimate currency: virtual, anonymous, stateless. They represent true economic freedom, not subject to arbitrary manipulation by any government. Do we have any leads?”

“Not yet. But mark my words: we’re going to figure out who did this and we’re going to take them down … provided someone pays us a fair market rate to do so.”

“Easy, chief,” I said. “Any rate the market offers is, by definition, fair.”

He laughed. “That’s why you’re the best I got, Lisowski. Now you get out there and find those bitcoins.”

“Don’t worry,” I said. “I’m on it.”

I put a quarter in the siren. Ten minutes later, I was on the scene. It was a normal office building, strangled on all sides by public sidewalks. I hopped over them and went inside.

“Home Depot™ Presents the Police!®” I said, flashing my badge and my gun and a small picture of Ron Paul. “Nobody move unless you want to!” They didn’t.

“Now, which one of you punks is going to pay me to investigate this crime?” No one spoke up.

“Come on,” I said. “Don’t you all understand that the protection of private property is the foundation of all personal liberty?”

It didn’t seem like they did.

“Seriously, guys. Without a strong economic motivator, I’m just going to stand here and not solve this case. Cash is fine, but I prefer being paid in gold bullion or autographed Penn Jillette posters.”

Nothing. These people were stonewalling me. It almost seemed like they didn’t care that a fortune in computer money invented to buy drugs was missing.

I figured I could wait them out. I lit several cigarettes indoors. A pregnant lady coughed, and I told her that secondhand smoke is a myth. Just then, a man in glasses made a break for it.

“Subway™ Eat Fresh and Freeze, Scumbag!®” I yelled.

Too late. He was already out the front door. I went after him.

“Stop right there!” I yelled as I ran. He was faster than me because I always try to avoid stepping on public sidewalks. Our country needs a private-sidewalk voucher system, but, thanks to the incestuous interplay between our corrupt federal government and the public-sidewalk lobby, it will never happen.

I was losing him. “Listen, I’ll pay you to stop!” I yelled. “What would you consider an appropriate price point for stopping? I’ll offer you a thirteenth of an ounce of gold and a gently worn ‘Bob Barr ‘08’ extra-large long-sleeved men’s T-shirt!”

He turned. In his hand was a revolver that the Constitution said he had every right to own. He fired at me and missed. I pulled my own gun, put a quarter in it, and fired back. The bullet lodged in a U.S.P.S. mailbox less than a foot from his head. I shot the mailbox again, on purpose.

“All right, all right!” the man yelled, throwing down his weapon. “I give up, cop! I confess: I took the bitcoins.”

“Why’d you do it?” I asked, as I slapped a pair of Oikos™ Greek Yogurt Presents Handcuffs® on the guy.

“Because I was afraid.”

“Afraid?”

“Afraid of an economic future free from the pernicious meddling of central bankers,” he said. “I’m a central banker.”

I wanted to coldcock the guy. Years ago, a central banker killed my partner. Instead, I shook my head.

“Let this be a message to all your central-banker friends out on the street,” I said. “No matter how many bitcoins you steal, you’ll never take away the dream of an open society based on the principles of personal and economic freedom.”

He nodded, because he knew I was right. Then he swiped his credit card to pay me for arresting him.

[-] cronenthal@discuss.tchncs.de 16 points 3 days ago

Everyone is entitled to their opinion about bigotry and slurs, but having soulless American mega-corporations enforcing the current lowest common denominator about what is acceptable is not the win some people might think it is. Sure, they might seem like they're on your side, and thus the right side, now, but this can change quickly and radically.

[-] TheAlbatross 22 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I don't agree. I think shutting down places that promote bigotry and slurs is good.

If they just want to run a minecraft server, they easily can. They just can't also use that as a place to promote hatred and bigotry.

What you're making is a slippery slope argument that doesn't really hold water.

[-] KelvarCherry 2 points 1 day ago

I've seen peaceful protestors in the USA, UK and Germany get charged as rioters and terrorists for opposing the Israeli genocide against Palestinians. Also, the media lost its shit at criticism of Charlie Kirk. cronenthal's argument absolutely holds water.

[-] JackbyDev@programming.dev 2 points 2 days ago

What you're making is a slippery slope argument that doesn't really hold water.

Is it though? Like, really, is it? In the US the government is possibly doing shit like labeling transgender people as nihilistic violent extremists. The Project 2025 shit is coming fast. I really don't like people using racial slurs either. But the idea that it could be very soon that things like speaking about some LGBTQ topics gets policed more and corporations go along with it is not as far fetched as it seems. A year ago I'd probably have a different opinion.

And I wanna be clear, I'm not defending people using slurs. I think it's fine for Microsoft to not host that server on a public list of servers, I guess. I'm really just saying the slope is more slippery than previously thanks to the MAGA crowd. I'm not really sure how I feel about it all, I'm still in the cognitive dissonance phase as my mind works out where I really stand. I've been lucky enough that speech I consider acceptable has been what speech others considered acceptable for my whole life, but the idea that queer topics come under fire isn't crazy.

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I hate Microsoft but I also hate self-described "Libertarians" complaining about free speech because it usually means they want to spam slurs and white supremacist bullshit without pushback.

[-] gnawmon@ttrpg.network 13 points 3 days ago

I replied to a comment like this somewhere else, so I'll just paste this here

Take this with a grain of salt, as I'm a commoner on the server.

While freedom of speech means you can yell whatever racial slurs you want, it doesn't mean you are free from consequences. When you start saying bigoted stuff on the chat, you will be targeted by players and get /ignore'd.

I would advise you to make your own judgement by reading the chat logs on Discord or IRC, but not everybody has that amount of time. Some people said vile stuff here, but every time someone says some weird stuff, it always gets backlash, and it definitely isn't a nazi breeding ground.

Also I'll add this, Most of the server staff and community are queer and from different backgrounds, slurs aren't taken kindly here.

[-] TehPers@beehaw.org 13 points 3 days ago

While freedom of speech means you can yell whatever racial slurs you want, it doesn't mean you are free from consequences.

This seems to be the MS stance as well, and they seem unwilling to associate with that kind of speech, so they want to cut that connection off as a consequence.

MS isn't telling them not to speak. MS is telling them to take their speech somewhere else.

[-] Psionicsickness@reddthat.com 21 points 3 days ago

Microsoft is also cool with their IPs being used to promote ICE. So I don’t know how much water your argument holds…

[-] greybeard@feddit.online 7 points 3 days ago

And their tools used to assist genocide.

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[-] skozzii@lemmy.ca 9 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

This has right-wing snowflakes getting upset over Charlie Kirk comments all over it.

There are currently 3 things you cannot bring up or speak negatively about or it will end up being penalized and censored

You cannot :

  • criticizeTrump
  • bring up Epstein
  • speak about up Charlie Kirk's factual history

Everything else is free speech.

[-] KelvarCherry 2 points 1 day ago
  • reveal the names of ICE agents
  • denounce the Confederacy
  • support Palestine
[-] msmc101 44 points 3 days ago

"free speech" + "libertarian values" = rampant slurs and abuse

[-] noxypaws@pawb.social 27 points 3 days ago

Aside from my concerns about the kind of shit libertarians think counts as free speech, how the hell would Microsoft implement a ban on a Minecraft server that Microsoft doesn't host?

Like I assume it's just connecting to the server by hostname or IP. What are they gonna do, hardcode the server's known IPs and hostnames and prevent connections??

[-] ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org 16 points 3 days ago

how the hell would Microsoft implement a ban on a Minecraft server that Microsoft doesn't host?

if a minecraft server wants to enforce verification of the game license, the server needs to be in contact with the authentication servers of microsoft. the server operator can turn this off, but then moderation becomes much harder, as usernane based banning becomes useless, and the paywall from ban evasion disappears.

other than that, in recent years there's something with chat message verification that I think involves sending some of the messages to microsoft? I don't remember exactly

but also the minecraft client could have a built in blacklist of servers. I don't know if it has but it's not much work.
a ban from the authentication server is probably easier though.

[-] KelvarCherry 2 points 1 day ago

The chat message verification is the Chat Reporting system, which can be required on servers. That's a whole rabbit hole to go down. TL;DR you can get banned from Minecraft if your messages get reported. (Use the NoChatReports mod like everyone does)

[-] fbr@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 days ago

Basically, yeah. The vanilla client checks a blacklist when it connects to a server and prevents the connection if it’s blocked.

[-] Cevilia 11 points 3 days ago

Fuck MinecraftOnline for making fucking Microsoft look like the good guys here.

[-] 30p87@feddit.org 21 points 3 days ago

TL;DR: Fascists fucking over (mostly) fascists. How about we sit back, watch, learn and switch to alternatives (Luanti), or at least offline/cracked Minecraft?

[-] RiikkaTheIcePrincess@pawb.social 22 points 3 days ago

(Severe sarcasm warning. Look away if you're allergic.)

I like that they effectively compared themselves getting an email to people getting arrested for totally innocent social media posts about nothing in particular, which we can all assume is the case without looking into at all. I also like that they're asking for widespread outrage against this, and want a person's name to ~~attack~~ converse sincerely with in the Free Marketplace of Ideas™. Such a good, honest person we can definitely trust implicitly, trying to protect Freeze Peach™ from Woke™ Left-Wing™ tyrants like Microsoft.

Maybe "like" is the wrong word. Hmmm.

[Not sarcasm] Right, we know what's going on here. Gross, cruel, hateful people just wanna have endless "rights" over everyone else and I'm so sick of their games I can hardly even type a non-sarcastic sentence. Ugh. Bleh. Et cetera. 🙄

[-] PiraHxCx@lemmy.ml 13 points 3 days ago

Self-hosted private server, just like a lemmy instance, one joins out of their own will. Imagine mega corporations being able to decide what is acceptable on your lemmy instance and take it down if they don't like it?

[-] stray@pawb.social 1 points 2 days ago

Microsoft can't take down their server. What they can do is ban it from connecting to their services. You do not need to connect to Microsoft to play on or host a private Minecraft server.

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[-] hodgepodgin@lemmy.zip 12 points 3 days ago

When will Microsoft care about all the P2W servers that get kids addicted to gambling

[-] petrescatraian@libranet.de 15 points 3 days ago

Ah, of course it's about the serious violations on free speech in *checks notes* the brutal dictatorships of Britain and Germany. The dictatorship of common sense dictating you how not to be an asshole.

That's so terrible!

[-] 9bananas@feddit.org 14 points 3 days ago

eh, the exaggeration aside...the trend lately IS extremely worrying.

especially the treatment of protesters.

that said I'm pretty sure that's got little to do with this situation...tend to agree with the others ITT: "libertarian" and "free speech" is seldom a good combination of words...

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[-] djsoren19 11 points 3 days ago

Britain marked Palestinian Action as a terrorist group and Germany has also cracked down on pro-Palestinian content.

These are not the bastions of freedom that you seem to think they are.

[-] petrescatraian@libranet.de 7 points 3 days ago

You maybe know that it's not these cases they're referring to when they talk about the lack of free speech.

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[-] TehPers@beehaw.org 9 points 3 days ago

If you want to say what you want, go ahead. Nobody is required to host that speech or allow that speech to be hosted on their platform or software.

MS is attacking free speech here in the same way that a moderator attacks free speech blocking a Lemmy server. Nobody's saying you can't use a modded client to connect to their server if they self-host it, but they're defederating on the main client because they want no association with it.

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[-] PiraHxCx@lemmy.ml 9 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Tomorrow, to conform to the new regime, Microsoft starts to shut down private servers with mentions to LGBT and Antifa.
If you don't stand up for free speech when its idiots using slurs, there will be no one left to stand up for you tomorrow when its your speech under attack.

[-] belated_frog_pants@beehaw.org 18 points 3 days ago
[-] KelvarCherry 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

No, but, we're not in control of the standards here. This is how every censorship process goes. It's "For the Children" or it's about stopping Nazis, and then when the system's established and normalized, they creep it towards oppression and suppression. How people are supporting this with everything else we see in 2025 is beyond me. Palestine Action. Kimmel. Kirk.

Reminder: The UK implemented Real ID-verification as a requirement to see porn. On Day 2, it was blocking the Russian-Ukraine war and Israeli genocide in Palestine -- two topics I'd say UK leadership is on the wrong side of. Just last September, Microsoft figurehead Bill Gates was singing praises to Donald Trump and Gates owns stake in companies executing Trump's deportations.

[-] KelvarCherry 4 points 3 days ago

I'm glad someone else sees it. I'm very unsettled by the widespread support for corporation-determined censorship on servers Microsoft doesn't even pay for. Did we forget Jimmy Kimmel? Do you not know of the "Chat Reports" feature??

the ability for nazis to be nazis is not the same as queer people being persecuted for existing

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this post was submitted on 30 Oct 2025
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