Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo have announced they have signed on as founding members of the Global Network Initiative—along with groups like HUman Rights Watch, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Human Rights First—in an effort to define a consistent set of principles on how the companies will do business in nations that restrict free speech and expression. The principles have been crafted over a period of almost two years, and come in the wake of all three companies enduring major criticism for their actions and policies in China and other countries which place severe limits on citizens’ online activities and speech. Yahoo, in particular, has been singled out for providing account information to Chinese authorities which has been used to jail pro-democracy bloggers and other activists.
Digital Trends
