Net giants unveil web rights code

[Nu Kua]

Al Jazeera reports:

Three of the world's leading internet companies have agreed on a code of conduct to help determine the kind of information they should be sharing with governments and protect the rights of individuals.
The code, drawn up Google Inc, Microsoft Corp and Yahoo Inc aims to reduce the scope of government requests that appear to violate free speech and other human rights principles.
Human rights groups, academics and investors were also consulted.
Critics have welcomed the move as a good "first step", but say the guidelines contain many loopholes and avoid specifics.

The "Global Network Initiative" (GNI) unveiled in New York on Tuesday, follows criticism that Google, Microsoft and Yahoo - among others - have assisted censorship of the internet especially in China, Africa and the Middle East.
According to the authors, the guidelines provide a "systematic approach" for participants to "work together in resisting efforts by governments that seek to enlist companies in acts of censorship and surveillance that violate international standards".
The guidelines commit technology firms to "protect the freedom of expression and privacy rights of their users" by taking a narrow interpretation of government requests for information or censorship, and to minimise cooperation.
Firms are also required to seek written requests along with the names and titles of the authorising government officer...

[krakatoa]

Wow they have agreed, These companys agreed, well there goes the freedom of speech, but we know it was already done in China, at least part time,

thanks for that story, this is not encouraging at all, but i kind of knew it, and i think it is like that for a while now, especially after 9/11

Krakatoa.