Global Voices co-founder Rebecca McKinnon has an article in this month's Far Eastern Economic Review which, she explains, takes a look at…
[H]ow Yahoo! went from assisting in the imprisonment of four dissidents in 2003 and 2004, to being yelled at in Congress in 2006 and 2007, to Jerry Yang's apology and recent establishment of a human rights fund administered by human rights activist Harry Wu.
The article also examines how at least some other companies are trying to learn from Yahoo!'s early mistakes. It explores the different approaches and disagreements over how (or whether) Internet and telecommunications companies are capable of respecting their users' rights to free expression and privacy in markets like China – or in any market for that matter.
Respecting users' rights to free expression and privacy, I argue, should be an integral part of corporate social responsibility – along with respect for the environment, sustainable development, and humane labor practices. But don't sit around waiting for your rights to get respected…
Link.
