Windows Phone Thoughts: Censoring in Text Messages, Subtle And Direct Methods

"Electronics have long been recognized as a weak link when it comes to secure conversation. From bugs hidden in lampshades to phone taps to keystroke tracking software, electronics provide the easy path to monitoring and censoring communications. In no area is that so apparent, perhaps, as in text messaging, as some users around the globe are discovering the hard way. Text messaging and the first level of censorship begins at the phone. While it's certainly possible to enter any word using the alphabetic method in which a=2, b=2-2, c=2-2-2, d=3 and so on, it isn't very convenient. This has led manufacturers to develop alternate systems like T9, which make it easier to enter common words. T9 works by using algorithms to determine what word a user is trying to enter. Punching 2-2-8 might default to "cat" for example, since that's a common word which uses the letters associated with those numbers. It might also give you "bat" however, which is another logical guess based on the letters available through those keystrokes. Usually, a provision is made for selecting words other than the algorithm's first guess. Where things start to get hairy is when a user enters something like 3-8-2-5, which can spell either "dual" or a somewhat naughty word which you won't find in your family newspaper."

An interesting read for those of us who are concerned about censorship or who live in a country where we like to believe we aren't censored ;) . While T9 doesn't seem to be subtle censoring to me, I suppose the argument could be made, and the other examples cited are certainly censorship. What do you think - should text messages be censored directly or indirectly by manufacturers or governments?