Microsoft, Google Agree to NGO Code of Conduct

Aditi.Tuteja writes "Technology companies have come under fire for providing equipment or software that permits governments to censor information or monitor the online or offline activities of their citizens. For example, last year, Google's approach to the China market was criticized over its creation of a censored, local version of its search engine. Microsoft, Google, and two other technology companies will develop a code of conduct with a coalition of nongovernmental organizations (NGO) to promote freedom of expression and privacy rights, they announced Friday. The two companies along with Yahoo, and Vodafone Group said the new guidelines are the result of talks with Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School."

Re:PR stunt

[massivefoot]

If this code of conduct is anywhere near sensible that practice would have to cease. This code of conduct will only have any real effect if the companies involved agree that human rights should take precedence over local law, which will most likely mean having to accept fines or closure of operations in some parts of the world. I somehow doubt that many will be prepared to do that.

I'd love this to be true, but...

[BillGatesLoveChild]

Yahoo in particular got in pretty thick with the Chinese Government, helping them find and jail those reporters and bloggers. Jerry Wang was completely unapologetic about it.

Here's several pages of waffle by Yahoo's Media Relations department: http://yhoo.client.shareholder.com/press/ReleaseDe tail.cfm?ReleaseID=187725 [shareholder.com]
So far as I can tell, it says absolutely nothing.

The Hong Kong Journalists association is much more to the point: http://www.fcchk.org/media/FCCToYahoo2.htm [fcchk.org]

I find it a little hard to believe Yahoo is going to do an about face. Can you imagine Yahoo executives at their next liason with the Chinese Government telling them "Ok, Commies, the rules have just changed. From now on, we're going to insist things are done right around here!" It's a nice thought, but it just isn't going to happen. Walk away from money? Never! (Unless they think they've lost the market to locals anyway?)

If those companies came out together publicly and criticized the Chinese Government, we might see something. But short of that I'm guessing it's just to make us feel better. "Oh Google and Yahoo? That's old hat; They have an NGO Code of Conduct now."

Re:PR stunt

[zCyl]

does google china still censor it's content? yes? then this is a load of bullshit.

I think you miss the point. Google can afford to say no to China's censorship if all of the major information gateways, i.e., its competitors (MSN, Yahoo, etc), agree to say no under the same set of rules.

As they are only now developing this, and have not past-tense developed it, evaluating Google's current stance toward China is not yet a valid test.

What about Google and Brazil?

[mangu]

people know that there is more out there but you are not allowed to see the content

I think the worst isn't the content alone, but the way those companies cooperate with authoritarian regimes in identifying people.

In Brazil, Google has fully cooperated with the government for the most absurd reasons. One recent example: they handed over IP addresses of people who participated in an Orkut community called "Eu sei dirigir bêbado" ("I know how to drive drunk"). The reason was that this was, allegedly, "apology of crime", a felony according to the draconian "liberty of expression" laws in Brazil.

Net result: More "Don't Be Evil" signs

[Eternal Vigilance]

The problem is that no one ever thinks their actions are the evil ones.