Microsoft is not untouchable by any means, but, probably more than any company in the world right now, they have the power to gain clarity on these sanctions (and possibly also the EAR issue).
Microsoft has obviously turned a corner recently into dramatic support for open source collaboration. They're pushing VSCode. They bought github. They support linux. None of us will be surprised to hear that they're seeking to buy StackExchange or Discord soon.
I'm saying: if these are their true colors, then they mount a full-throated resistance to this nonsense. They have the legal team, the technical talent, and the political connections to do so.
Start by refusing to take down Github Pages of nationals of sanctioned countries and refusing to disappear repositories maintained by the same, absent a specific court order. Then, challenge it in court.
Will the US Government have the gall to go to Seattle and cuff somebody over this? If they do, it will be a major international incident and rallying cry, and that person (and Microsoft) will look internationally heroic.
It looks like you've been using HN primarily for political battle. That's against the site guidelines and we ban accounts that do it. Would you please review https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html and use HN as intended? It's intended for intellectual curiosity.
