I hope this works.
A university professor who uses UNIX and the open-source Internet browser Firefox is planning to file a class action early next year to force the government to make its web presence accessible to people who don’t use Microsoft software.
“In the U.S., Britain, and France, there is no inconvenience faced by Internet users that don’t employ Microsoft’s software,” Kim said. In the case of Denmark, the government requires by law that public Web sites, such as online tax payment or bank sites, to not discriminate by computer operating system and Internet browser, he said.
However, the South Korean government designs its Web sites based on only Microsoft’s software. One of the government’s Web sites even carries a warning: ‘This page is for use through Internet Explorer.’ Kim Yeong-hong, a senior official at a civic group, said, “Because Web sites are designed with a certain company’s monopolistic software in mind, Internet users who don’t use the software are banned from accessing the Web sites.”
I mean, really, it shouldn’t take a lawsuit, but I am amazed at the number of websites in this “wired” country that don’t run in Firefox or Safari. It’s not just government sites, but online banking services and shopping sites require the use of IE. Which, really, when you think about it, it’s like all of these companies are forcing Koreans to deal with pop-ads, spyware, and just a really crappy browser. And that’s just wrong.
Interested in the cause? Check out the group’s website at open.unfix.net.
Via: The Hankyoreh
{ 13 comments }
Jon Allen 12.15.06 at 7:42 am
well they are going to have to do something fairly soon as most of these sites don’t work with Vista,
the new flavour of windows.
There was a Korea times strory recently http://tinyurl.com/y44nny
Cat 12.15.06 at 8:34 am
Wow. I hadn’t seen that yet. That’s also a problem.
Anon 12.15.06 at 3:41 pm
Pls. cite your sources. :)
Jennifer 12.15.06 at 4:28 pm
Hi Cat,
I saw your comment on my blog and have enjoyed discovering your blog. Welcome to Seoul!
As a mac user and a frequent online shopper, I have also been frustrated by the IE-centric internet world. I have to use a separate computer for all my banking, shopping, etc. Even to view the Seoul.go.kr webpage to look at bus routes takes IE. What a pain.
Cat 12.15.06 at 7:16 pm
Jennifer, thank you! And, the bus route map was exactly what I was thinking of when I posted my rant.
And, anon, my post does include a link (in the word ‘this’) to the original article in The Hankyoreh, from which I quote. I’ve added a credit at the end to make this clearer.
Rose Byrd 12.16.06 at 12:13 am
Wait until you have to try to learn Vista!
annamatic 12.16.06 at 1:59 am
I can’t wait…! I don’t think it will happen too quickly tho, although the Vista release and a law suit would certainly get the ball rolling… However, it’ll be a nightmare for the programmers…
In a recent project, I was told to not bother about designing for a VIsta environment because it wouldn’t be adopted for a few years.
Rose Byrd 12.16.06 at 10:23 am
Annamatic, a lot of us have already acquired the beta version of Vista from the free download (which is HUGE:takes all night on broadband). Microsoft still promising by June of 2007. We shall see, won’t we?
But this still does not make it right for Microsoft to exercise a chokehold on all official sites in Asia.
Same Anon 12.18.06 at 7:31 am
Hi Cat, I missed the link because of what I think was the template’s fault. ;) I remember moving my mouse over each word in the paragraph to find if there was any link in there. Thanks.
Your Brother 12.19.06 at 1:14 am
Any site that rquires IE, requires that I leave immediately. Worst browser in the world IMO even though they have added tabbed browsing in an attempt to win folks back from Firefox.
Michelle 12.22.06 at 11:39 am
Can you believe that SunTrust’s website has a few kinks in it for us Mac users? I would be totally lost in Korea.
Carol 12.24.06 at 1:08 pm
I hear you.
As a web developer — one who tests in Firefox first — I can say without a doubt that a big part of the problem is web developers themselves. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to say “Firefox [standards] first, IE second” both in my office in NY and in India. Especially India, where every developer goes through Microsoft training, uses Microsoft tools to develop sites, is told that’s all they need to know, and is not in the habit of questioning what they’re told to do (as we are here in the U.S.). I’d bet that the same is true in Southeast Asia as well.
That all results in an IE-first testing mentality…which leads to treating every other browser as a special-case requirement that needs additional “fixes” and “workarounds” built into the code for the site to work correctly. And that, of course, means more time and money to companies and governments. Hence, the “IE required” message on lots of websites.
A simple change of perspective to “standards first” does wonders, because as it turns out, IE can be made to behave like Firefox with a couple of easy coding tricks. Voilá, no problems. If there are no development problems, then companies & governments wouldn’t mind at all that sites work in Firefox. ;-)
Rose Byrd 12.27.06 at 12:04 am
Many customers I speak with everyday have found exactly the same experience as Carol, not to mention my own local government and public facilities.
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