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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
1.18.2007 - 09:00am ET
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Companies, Human Rights Groups, Investors, Academics and Technology Leaders to Address International Free Expression and Privacy Challenges
(CSRwire) January 18, 2007--A diverse group of companies, academics, investors,
technology leaders and human rights organizations announced today its
intention to seek solutions to the free expression and privacy challenges
faced by technology and communications companies doing business
internationally.
The process – which aims to produce a set of principles guiding company
behavior when faced with laws, regulations and policies that interfere
with the achievement of human rights – marks a new phase in efforts that
these groups began in 2006.
Last year, Google, Microsoft, Vodafone and Yahoo!, with the facilitation
of Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) and advice from the
Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School, initiated a
series of dialogues to gain a fuller understanding of free expression and
privacy as they relate to the use of technology worldwide.
At the same time, the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) was
also convening technology leaders, investors and human rights advocates to
discuss how to advance civil liberties on the Internet in the face of laws
that run contrary to international standards for human rights.
Both processes benefited from dialogue, research and policy expertise on
internet filtering and surveillance practices from the OpenNet Consensus,
a coalition of academic institutions including the University of
California Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism and School of
Law-Boalt Hall, the Berkman Center and others.
The new combined group, in addition to developing the principles, seeks to
advance their effectiveness by establishing a framework to implement the
principles, hold signatories accountable and provide for ongoing learning.
"Technology companies have played a vital role building the economy and
providing tools important for democratic reform in developing countries.
But some governments have found ways to turn technology against their
citizens -- monitoring legitimate online activities and censoring
democratic material," CDT Executive Director Leslie Harris said. "It is
vital that we identify solutions that preserve the enormous democratic
value provided by technological development, while at the same time
protecting the human rights and civil liberties of those who stand to
benefit from that expansion."
BSR CEO Aron Cramer said that the discussions over the past year have
already proven valuable.
"Thanks to the extraordinary commitment of the companies and other
participants in this process we've already learned a great deal about the
obstacles we face and the ways business and other stakeholders can join
forces to address those challenges," Cramer said. “This important
dialogue reflects a shared commitment to maximize the information
available via the internet on the basis of global principles protecting
free expression and privacy. This dialogue could prove a key step in
unlocking the communications potential of the internet.”
Members of the group plan to complete the process in 2007. The following
companies and stakeholders have agreed to participate:
Amnesty International
Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School
Boston Common Asset Management
Business for Social Responsibility (Facilitator)
Calvert Group
Center for Democracy and Technology (Facilitator)
Committee to Protect Journalists
Domini Social Investments LLC
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Enterprise Privacy Group
F&C Asset Management
Google, Inc.
Human Rights First
Human Rights in China
Human Rights Watch
International Business Leaders Forum
International Council on Human Rights Policy
Microsoft
Reporters Without Borders
Trillium Asset Management
United Nations Special Representative to the Secretary-General on
business & human rights (Observer status)
University of California, Berkeley School of Law-Boalt Hall
Vodafone
Yahoo! Inc.
More information:
Barbara-Anne Greenwald, Business for Social Responsibility
bagreenwald@bsr.org; Tel: +1 415
984 3233
Dave McGuire, Center for Democracy and Technology
dmcguire@cdt.org; Tel: + 1 202
637-9800
About Business for Social Responsibility
Since 1992, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) has been providing
socially responsible business solutions to many of the world’s leading
corporations. Headquartered in San Francisco and with offices in Europe
and China, BSR is a nonprofit business association that serves its 250
member companies and other Global 1000 enterprises. Through advisory
services, convenings and research, BSR works with corporations and
concerned stakeholders of all types to create a more just and sustainable
global economy. For more information, visit www.bsr.org.
About Center for Democracy and Technology
The Center for Democracy and Technology works to promote democratic values
and constitutional liberties in the digital age. With expertise in law,
technology, and policy, CDT seeks practical solutions to enhance free
expression and privacy in global communications technologies. CDT is
dedicated to building consensus among all parties interested in the future
of the Internet and other new communications media. For more information,
visit www.cdt.org.
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