Internet companies criticised

AMNESTY International yesterday accused Yahoo, Microsoft and Google of violating human rights principles by co-operating with China’s efforts to censor the web and called on them to lobby for the release of jailed cyber-dissidents.

The human rights group also called on the internet companies to publicly oppose Chinese government requests that violate human rights standards.

“The internet should promote free speech, not restrict it. We have to guard against the creation of two internets — one for expression and one for repression,” said Larry Cox, executive director of Amnesty’s US branch. The companies “have violated their stated corporate values and policies” in their pursuit of China’s booming market, the statement said. It appealed to them to “call for the release of cyber-dissidents.”