"The Internet in China: A Tool for Freedom or Suppression?"

Two weeks ago John Palfrey (Clinical Professor of Law, Berkman's Executive Director, and ONI principal) testified before the House and yesterday both he and Berkman Fellow Rebecca MacKinnon offered testimony to the Hill Hearing, "The Internet in China: A Tool for Freedom or Suppression?"   The hearing has been widely covered, including TimesOnline, VOA News, and USA Today.

From John Palfrey's written testimony:
There are a number of things that United States technology companies can do to make their actions more transparent to users, more protective of civil liberties, and more accountable to all of us.  Microsoft, Yahoo!, Google, and Cisco each should be applauded for their respective, increasingly clear public statements about how they will operate moving forward when it comes to doing business in China.  These public statements, and action based upon these statements, are essential to moving forward toward a solution. 

Legislation and Other State Action --

Second, it may be the case that the Congress, or other branches of the United States government, must take new action to solve this problem.  That said, any outcome that bans United States technology companies from doing business in China, in the long-run, would not be in the best interests of democracy there or in states with similar Internet policies.  There are many other options beyond an outright ban that could help, if it is clear that the industry cannot solve its own problem.  To keep reading, click here.

Berkman Fellow Rebecca MacKinnon blogged the companies' testimonies and added her own commentary -- Google, Cisco, Microsoft, and Yahoo.  MacKinnon also blogged about the proposed Global Online Freedom Act of 2006.  MacKinnon blogs very frequently on this issue at Rconversations.

The Berkman Center - its faculty, fellows, and affiliates - have researched issues like Internet censorship and regulation for a long time.  If you are interested in reading more about this issue, please click here.  If you are a member of the press and would like to be notified of research on this issue, please email amichel AT cyber.harvard.edu.