[Infowarrior] - Google, Microsoft help found anti-censorship group

[Richard Forno]

Google, Microsoft help found anti-censorship group

Google, Microsoft and Yahoo are among the founding members of a new  
anti-censorship group called the Global Network Initiative, reports  
indicate. The organization also has the backing of investor, human  
rights and press freedom groups, such as the Center for Democracy and  
Technology. The GNI is specifically aimed at forming a consistent  
approach to dealing with countries that block free speech on the  
Internet, such as China. Many governments around the world filter  
search results, or simply prevent citizens from accessing certain  
websites.

Participation in GNI marks a reversal of policy by the three tech  
companies, which have in the past been accused of collaborating with  
governments to censor websites, or even helping to hunt down political  
dissidents. It is in fact uncertain to what degree the corporations  
will actually protest government actions; human rights motions were  
voted down at the last Google shareholder meeting, and Microsoft is  
said to have published a paper indicating it would continue to follow  
local censorship restrictions, regardless of whether they violate  
rights held elsewhere.

http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/10/29/new.anti.censorship.group/