Google, Cisco, Microsoft, Yahoo and the entire China enabling Internet crew are headed for some interesting hearings in Washington, thanks, in part, to a new Mr. Smith:
The hearing will likely produce more embarrassing publicity for the companies, and it may drive legislative momentum among lawmakers concerned about China’s influence on the U.S. economy. Congressional aides are expecting a standing-room-only crowd, and the reception from politicians may be chilly.
“I was asked the question the other day, do U.S. corporations have the obligation to promote democracy? That’s the wrong question,” says Rep. Chris Smith, the New Jersey Republican and chairman of the House human-rights subcommittee that is holding the hearing. “It would be great if they would promote democracy. But they do have a moral imperative and a duty not to promote dictatorship.”
Well said, Mr. Smith. The short article in the WSJ further tell us he:
… plans to introduce legislation next week that would impose restrictions on Internet companies seeking to expand into China but also provide some legal protection from Chinese demands.
Looks like there’ll be some action over at the China Syndrome.
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3 Comments
1. quickrob:Let’s hope there is a constitutional way to force these companies to put human rights above the dollar.
I expected more from Google. It’s really a shame.
But if we can’t force them to put human rights above the dollar then we can certainly shame them for their failure to consider dignity and democracy over dictatorships and dollars.
If it Google vs. China google will win because Google can play the human rights card while China can only dangle cash in front of Google and hope Google will choose the dollar over the dream.
Its sad to see Google refuse to submit to US govt demands for information but Google will filter search results to get into the Chinese market. All their talk about how SOME GOOGLE is better for Chinese democracy than NO GOOGLE is all just a lame justification for their shameful actions. Everyone knows that.
But if some law is to be written whereby US companies cannot enable foreign suppression of human rights that the US considers inalienable then what effect will this law have on US oil companies overseas, among other companies?
I say screw the corporations and let human rights trump the dollar all the way to the democracy bank! we might take a hit for a while, and countries which WILL put the dollar first might capitalize on our reluctance to help these dictators, but we will will in the long haul because we will be on the RIGHT SIDE.
Feb 11, 2006 - 11:16 am 2. Das:Roger, Indeed.
I worked in Import/Export for ten years and it was constant in the industry that international business was a priveledge - granted at the pleasure of the US government - not a right. If companies are operating overseas in ways that are contrary to US procedure, laws, policy, whatever, the govt. has every right to shut them down. (I know that the Mulinational Corporation is one of the left’s favorite monsters, but it is a monster mostly in their mind - but that’s a story for a rainy day and finally, here in Seattle, the sun is out.)
Google’s recent actions in China are reprehensible - especially for a company specializing in mass communications, founded and nutured in freedom, agreeing to state censorship: how repulsive.
Feb 11, 2006 - 1:25 pm 3. Kevin Peters:Roger:
What a lovely world. We have corporations participating in government repression for cash. We have the E.U. capitulating to violent blackmail and agreeing to let the Islamo Fascists edit their no longer free press. And we have Don Kofi trying to consolidate his power and the left are his back up singers because of their dream of the end of the nation state(translation- the dictatorship of the self appointed Davos elite). Ten years ago I would have scoffed at this scenario but I’m afarid there are too many people who have bought into this con game
Feb 11, 2006 - 7:02 pm