We can push back on it once it effects an innocent server, which this isn't.

They can still run the server cracked if they really wanted. They just won't be allowed to use Mojang's authentication servers.

But at the end of the day, it's still their IP, they can do what they want and we can choose to play Minecraft or not when that happens.

The malignment of anyone supportive of free-speech with 'obviously they're bigots' is a really dumb take that plays into the hands of oppressive governments.

Considering their examples of 'free speech under attack' being the UK and Germany - places that have absolutely stomped on Palestine-support protesters over the last few years, I think your assumptions could be completely off base.

They are not using Microsoft's official systems at all - this is an expensive self-hosted services that they run, so maybe, instead of jumping to comment and saying "I don't even need to read Mojangs statement" you probably should next time.

Sense when did Microsoft become the "speach police", I'm all for them shutting down problem accounts when they're reported, but their place isn't to patrol the chat like a physco mother reading all her kid's texts.

No one is forced to play on a Minecraft server, if you don't like the people there, you can leave and find somewhere else.

Corporations are only after profits, they'll moderate based on whatever's popular at the time and doesnt hurt their profits. Look at all the gambling/pay to win servers they don't shit about.

The fact that they don't point to all of the political arrests and disappearing of people in the United States is interesting. Yet they are concerned about free speech.

Mensa... time and time again we see the same thing. People desperate to prove their intelligence through tests etc. -- may be intelligent, not always wise.

Several actions on a server ping Microsoft's servers for authentication, I couldn't login to my self hosted server because of the azure outages yesterday

You're technically bound by the Minecraft/Microsoft EULA. As others have noted, the game phones home for authentication, so Microsoft can control that.

That said, if they're hosting the Java edition it is absolutely trivial to defeat the authentication. This is technically a license violation, but if I were these guys I would just become a pirate server and build Microsoft a nice 128 block tall obsidian and sea lantern middle finger.

Every Minecraft server uses Mojang's authentication servers, so every login attempt has to go through Mojang. That's how they can enforce these things.

it's probably 2 ways:

first: every public server (and really every server) needs to include an acknowledgement of the EULA that comes with the server files, or the server won't even start. so this is something that the server host has already agreed to. if they are in violation of the EULA, then they can probably be forced to comply with a cease and desist or similar legal action by a court order.

second: if the server is discoverable in-game via mojang hosted services, i.e.: if you can just search "Minecraft online" on the multiplayer menu in-game and find the server, then they can kick them off that service. pretty sure that's the IP ban they are talking about, but could be something else too (don't know enough about how big Minecraft instances are managed, i just play with friends on self-hosted servers where all of this is irrelevant, since they are private anyways)

apart from that i guess general lawsuit shenanigans against the hoster, which could mean either the Minecraft online team, or, if they are using a hosting service to run the servers, the hosting service itself.

so there's quite a few ways, all except the second would effectively kill the server.

all that said... I'm very suspicious about the entire exchange:

the words "libertarian" and "free speech" are almost always code for bigotry.

and the mojang email is super weird too; why is there zero concrete examples of what the problematic content actually is? it's absurdly vague and impossible to comply with.

which would also make sense if the first assumption is true, that it's a server full of bigotry, then mojang might feel that there is no need for examples, since they assume the hoster knows exactly what they're talking about...

anyways....very, VERY weird situation.

one of the two is definitely dishonest, but i can't say for sure which one... although I'm leaning towards the server hosters for now...seems suspicious...

The biggest issue here is the server using the trademark "Minecraft". This feels like a threat to take actions for using that name if they don't align with what Microsoft wants. Which is reasonable, the server calls itself "MinecraftOnline". Microsoft does have a reasonable right to put a stop to that usage if it reflects badly on their branding.

Once the server stops using their branding, then Microsoft loses a lot of it's teeth, especially outside of the game itself (like on discord). Even in the game, if it is java edition and requires a direct IP connection Microsoft has very little ground to stand on, but they could kick them off Realms, if they are present.

That's one thing I miss about old games. Anyone could run a game server, and you could always directly connect to them even if they weren't listed on the server list, or gamespy was down.

well, idk if there’s examples, but their server has an "anything goes" policy with regards to chat. they explicitly mention racial slurs as a thing you are allowed to say.

so yea, fuck that. archive the map for it’s historical value and close the server. it’s been unplayably laggy for years anyway, we’re not losing much.

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.