Investors To Pressure Internet Cos On China Practices

[Kristijntje]

A group of 25 investors, foundations and other organizations allied with a press freedom group plan to step up the pressure on Yahoo Inc. (YHOO) and other Internet companies to support freedom of expression in China and other repressive countries.

Reporters Without Borders said Friday that the investor group, which together manages $21 billion, will release a joint statement at a press conference in New York on Monday committing themselves to freedom of expression on the Internet and agreeing to "monitor" Internet companies' practices in repressive countries.

full article: http://finance.myway.com/jsp/nw/nwdt_rt.jsp?section=news&feed=dji&src=704&news_id=dji-00105320051104&date=20051104

Press conference info:
Monday, November 7, 2005, at 11.30 a.m. Overseas Press Club 40 West 45 Street, New York, NY 10036
more info and full statement from Reporters Without Borders: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=15480

[rose]

Yahoo in China: Rising tide of anger

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/10/24/b.../yahoo.php

http://booyahoo.blogspot.com/

[bargainbloodhound]

I've always found it refreshing...OK nauseating  ...that the CEOs/Founders of Yahoo, Google, Microsoft, and eBay never miss an opportunity to claim to the press what great philanthropists they are/how they are helping the poor, while at the same time these slimebags have no problem helping repressive governments like China's violate human rights if it means their companies (and them) can make a few extra bucks. 

Helping a government violate the human rights of its citizens so they can make more money more than negates all of their "charity work".

I liked this quote from a letter a Chinese dissident wrote to Yahoo's founder:

"What you have said to defend yourself indicated that your success and wealth cannot hide your poverty in terms of the integrity of your personality," Liu wrote to Yang of Yahoo. "In comparison with Shi, your glorious social status is a poor cover for your barren morality, and your swelling wallet is an indicator of your diminished status as a man."

 

[jezebel]

Good blog piece See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Do Evil