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NYT Editorial Slams ISPs Over Online Freedom

Posted by Zonk on from the the-goal-is-less-sharing dept.

Erris writes "The New York Times site is running an opinion piece from last weekend which lambasts Yahoo! (and other US ISPs) for cooperating with China and other repressive governments. 'Yahoo's collaboration is appalling, and Yahoo is not the only American company helping the Chinese government repress its people ... Last January, Representative Christopher Smith of New Jersey reintroduced the Global Online Freedom Act in the House. It would fine American companies that hand over information about their customers to foreign governments that suppress online dissent.'"

3 of 127 comments (clear)

  1. No kidding? by Nomad+the+Odd · · Score: 5, Insightful

    From TFA: "Last January, Representative Christopher Smith of New Jersey reintroduced the Global Online Freedom Act in the House. It would fine American companies that hand over information about their customers to foreign governments that suppress online dissent. The bill would at least give American companies a solid reason to decline requests for data, but the big Internet companies do not support it. That shows how much they care about the power of information to liberate the world." Really? The companies don't support the law? Gee that's strange. Why wouldn't they want to be stuck between a legal order to hand over information, and a fine if they do? That law may be a good idea, but it drastically cripples American companies.

  2. Yes, but.. by Brian+Ribbon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The US ISPs also frequently co-operate with the US authorities, whose attitude towards people's online rights is hardly respectable.

    --
    "To the future or to the past, to a time when thought is free" ~ Nineteen Eighty-Four
  3. Screw China! by db32 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why can't we get a law passed that says companies can't do that here?! I mean seriously, not to be cold, but I don't give a crap about Yahoo or anyone turning over data on chinese dissidents to chinese authorities when there is nothing stoping them from turning over the data on US dissidents to US authorities. Christ, they are even trying to grant the telcos immunity for doing that here in the US while trying to prevent it in china. WTF? Can I please get a little more concern for the rights, privacy, and freedom of our own damned citizens before we go off pretending to be dudly do right elsewhere? This world police shit is what keeps getting us in trouble in the first place.

    --
    The only change I can believe in is what I find in my couch cushions.