Originally published February 23 2006
Technology companies heavily criticized by human rights groups
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and Cisco Systems have been blasted by the Congressional Human Rights Caucus for caving in to the Chinese government’s restrictions on internet freedom and for not sending representatives to the caucus meetings.
The Congressional Human Rights Caucus fired the government's first warning shot at the very start of a briefing held Wednesday to discuss human rights and Internet freedom in China (see Tech Firms Snub Feds).
Rep. Tom Lantos (D-California) did not mince words in criticizing Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, and Cisco for both "caving in to Beijing's demands for the sake of profits," and for not sending representatives to the caucus meetings.
Microsoft, Yahoo, and Google have all been heavily criticized by human rights groups for what they see as compliance with the Chinese government's restrictions on Internet freedom in that country.
Google bore the worst criticism at Wednesday's briefing both from politicians and human rights watchdog groups for censoring its search results in China as a result of pressure from the Chinese government.
The four tech companies have been invited to a congressional subcommittee hearing on February 15 on the subject of the operating procedures of U.S. Internet firms in China.
None of the companies has formally accepted the invitations, but they are expected to attend.
"We have seen spokespeople from three of the four companies quoted as saying they will attend," said Brad Dayspring, a spokesperson for Rep. Chris Smith (R-New Jersey).
We would certainly like to hear more about the technologies they use over there.
Rep. Smith, the chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees global human rights, has already begun drafting legislation that will govern the conduct of U.S. companies abroad.
Other invitees include David Gross, the State Department's deputy assistant secretary for International Communications and Information Policy, Julien Pain from Reporters Without Borders, and Harry Wu from the Laogai Research Foundation.
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