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Human Rights and a Code of Conduct for China's Web

Posted by Zonk on from the try-to-play-well-with-others dept.

Ian Lamont writes "Human Rights Watch is preparing a code of conduct that specifies how major Internet service providers and portal operators should deal with Internet censorship in China. An officer for the group expressed concern that the Chinese government is 'setting the standard on control of the Internet' and also singled out international companies working in China for preemptively blocking access in 'anticipation of requests from the government' rather than waiting for orders from Beijing to block access. China has recently blocked YouTube following the posting of videos about the Tibetan protests, but has been unable to completely stop the flow of Tibet-related information in and out of China, thanks in part to bloggers and others using spam tactics to bypass Chinese filters."

4 of 108 comments (clear)

  1. Olympic response by esocid · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The code is due in the next couple of months and comes in the run up to the Beijing Olympic Games that begin in August.
    I am interested in what will happen when the Olympics go the China and the press/visitors/athletes respond to the censorship there. I doubt it would change anything automatically but no doubt will put some pressure on the government since it will be under the scrutiny of the entire world.
    --
    Absolute power corrupts absolutely. indymedia
  2. Instead of a "code of conduct" for the ISPs by iminplaya · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Let's create a workaround and eliminate the need for for them entirely. That would be much more likely to bring about the desired result.

    --
    What?
  3. Re:corporate consciousness by OeLeWaPpErKe · · Score: 2, Interesting

    And also let's not forget the politically correct idiots of the left, who'll blast anyone giving politically incorrect truths. Any mention of the reasons why nations block content ( Just an example, over 30 countries have censorship due to this document ) cannot even be said. Same problem with stating that China is a socialist state, with the state providing healthcare, and censorship (they cannot be separated, as people need to be prevented from gaming the system, europe ignores this, and it's social structure is on the verge of collapse).

  4. Fiduciary duty != maximum profit with no ethics by Steve+Hamlin · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Management can be sued by shareholders if it intentionally enters a course of action that decreases profits, even if the action is ethical.

    Blatantly incorrect.

    The Board of Directors, and Management, DO have a responsibility to act in the best interests of shareholders, see Fiduciary Duty.

    However, NOT to the extent that they must pursue every market in every industry in the world.

    The Business Judgment Rule protects the Board and Management from lawsuits about normal business decisions, such as:

    Hypothetical_Google_Director/CEO: "should we go into China knowing the upside for immediate growth and the potential downside for long-term corporate image problems? No, I don't think so."

    No way you a shareholder could sue over that. You certainly could try to vote in a new Board of Directors who are committed to expansion in China, but that is not the same as suing the Board for a breach of duty.