Fergie's Tech Blog

U.S. Internet Firms Repond to China Critics

Jonathan Birchall and Richard Water write in The Financial Times:

Google, Yahoo, Microsoft and Vodafone have announced an agreement with human rights groups, internet freedom activists and others to establish a set of principles covering how they deal with censorship and other restrictions that could harm human rights in China and elsewhere.

The move comes in the wake of public criticism of big US online companies last year over their activities in China. It echoes other voluntary “multi-stakeholder” initiatives that have emerged in recent years in response to public protest, covering issues such as the use of local security forces by oil and mining companies, and conditions in the clothing and footwear supply chains.

The four companies have agreed to work with non-governmental organisations to “seek solutions to the free expression and privacy challenges faced by technology and communications companies doing business internationally”, according to a statement on Thursday.

posted by Fergie @ 1/18/2007 01:45:00 PM