International Freedom Of Expression Exchange(IFEX), 5 Nov 2008
Microsoft, Google and Yahoo! have joined forces with IFEX members the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Human Rights Watch, the World Press Freedom Committee (WPFC) and others to sign a global code of conduct promising to combat online censorship and protect user privacy on the Internet.
The Global Network Initiative, drawn up by a broad coalition of Internet companies, rights groups, academics and investors, follows criticism that companies were assisting governments in countries like China to censor the Internet.
Its code of conduct, or "principles", seeks to advance user rights to free expression and privacy, especially when faced with government demands for censorship and disclosure of users' personal information.
"These principles provide a clear road map where none existed before - and they are not simply aspirational, they are concrete," said CPJ.
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