Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 2:10 PM ET
(Cross-posted from the Official Google Blog)
In a world where governments all too often censor what their citizens can see and do on the Internet, Google has from the start promoted global free expression and taken the lead in being transparent with our users. We've pressed governments around the world to stop limiting free speech and made it possible for dissidents, bloggers and others to have their voices heard.
As part of those ongoing efforts to promote free expression and protect our users' privacy, today we're announcing Google's participation as a founding company member of a new program called the Global Network Initiative. (The site, at globalnetworkinitiative.org, will be live within a day or so.)
This initiative is the result of two years of discussions with other leading technology companies, human rights organizations, socially responsible investors and academic institutions. Thanks to hard work and cooperation from all parties, the Initiative sets the kinds of standards and practices that all companies and groups should use when governments threaten internationally recognized rights to free expression and privacy.
The Global Network Initiative also offers an important commitment from all parties to take action together to promote free expression and protect privacy in the use of all information and communication technologies. We know that common action by these diverse groups is more likely to bring about change in government policies than the efforts of any one company or group acting alone.
Companies that join the Initiative commit to putting into effect procedures that will protect their users by:
- Evaluating against international standards government requests to censor content or access user information
- Providing greater transparency
- Assessing human rights risks when entering new markets or introducing new products
- Instituting employee training and oversight programs
These are things that Google does now, but joining the Initiative will help us refine our methods and maintain our leadership position. Down the road companies will be assessed on how they're doing in implementing the principles and the Initiative will report those results.
This Initiative is by no means a silver bullet or the last word, but it does represent a concrete step toward promoting freedom of expression and protecting users' privacy in the 60th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Now we're actively recruiting more companies and groups to join the Initiative and advance these critical human rights around the world.
3 comments:
I wont to work at Google!
I find it totally insane for Google to say they are "protecting privacy around the world". Actually Google is a monopoly now offering franchises on search results. The Google bots (created by humans)stalk anyone's personal/private (we thought or hope)replies on anyone's sites. It's kind of a joke don't you think? Google is creating the ultimate blacklist database. Nothing anyone writes on the Internet will ever be protected. Something very wrong here. I'm tired of big business masquerading as concerned for the populace's welfare. They could give a rat's ass about my privacy. Their ultimate goal is to pocket as much change possible. To hell with the end results! Do we, the people, look stupid to you? I guess people are catching on to search engines ways and starting to talk. Welcome to capitalism 101. Very dangerous what Google is doing here. Ad farms are growing like a cancer. Google has the market. Bombard us under false pretenses and you might not get the business for long. For those using Google to their advantage all is good. I only feel sorry for those poor bastards who think anything they write is being protected. Do we, the people, look stupid to you? Last time I checked it worked that we capitalist consumers demand and you supply. As quickly as we patronized you we can reverse order.
I am a new bus driver, and began a blog about my experience training and on-the-job learning; it attracted some readers, and the company's in=house newsletter editor, and the union newsletter's editor, both want me to write for them, which is great. Not so great is the call I got today saying I've been put on "administrative leave" (i.e. not driving the rest of my shift today or tomorrow) and will be attending, tomorrow, a meeting of the company and my union to discuss this blog. Seems they liked the blog at first and then when I said a few critical things changed their minds, to the point where my job may be a stake.
So any thoughts about blogging employees who were only trying to put a human face on what its like to be a new bus driver?
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