Google just posted their response to the U.S. Congressional Human Rights Caucus, which is scheduled for today. They go on to outline their view of the situation with China, and also mention their proposed next steps for companies as well as government to resolve the issue.

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/02/human-rights-caucus-briefing.html

Only Yahoo had not yet declined to attend the briefing – Microsoft, Cisco, and Google all declined.

Here's the concept that Google, Yahoo, Cisco, Microsoft and all the others just don't get:

Imagine if nobody ever heard Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech? If Rosa Park's brave defiance was hushed up? If all the other courageous voices of the civil rights movement had never been heard?

Imagine if all newspapers and media of that era had been censored. "Just complying with local laws", they would mutter.

In your nightmares you can picture what today's America would then be like.

Why then should we accept justifications and excuses from Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, Cisco and all the others who have sold their soul to provide China's regime with the means to keep their own Martin Luther Kings and Rosa Parks silenced?

And if it is "ok" to use American technology to prop up a crumbling dictatorship halfway around the world; how will we be able to object – or fight back – when the same technology gets used at home, against you and me...

...once there is nobody left who can stand up and shout: "I have a dream!"

Watch for the Congressional Hearings on February 15! Rep. Smith should, however, subpoena representatives from the companies, not simply invite them.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/nj04_smith/printernetchina.html

Smith Criticizes Google for Caving to China’s Demand for Internet Censorship
  
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) criticized Google Inc. for caving to the demands of the Chinese government by agreeing to censor its own search results.

Smith, Chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees Global Human Rights, announced that on February 15, he would lead a hearing that will examine the operating procedures of US internet companies in China.

“It is astounding that Google, whose corporate philosophy is ‘don’t be evil,’ would enable evil by cooperating with China’s censorship policies just to make a buck,” said Smith, who has been a leading human rights advocate since being elected to Congress. “China’s policy of cutting off the free flow of information is prohibitive for the growth of democracy and the rule of law. Many Chinese have suffered imprisonment and torture in the service of truth – and now Google is collaborating with their persecutors.”

Congressman Smith noted that the internet is a powerful tool that could be used to empower voices calling for freedom and democracy across the globe.

“Internet companies like Google, Yahoo and Microsoft attract some of the best and brightest minds to develop cutting edge technology that can be used for good throughout the world,” said Smith. “The ability to communicate openly is the key to unlock the door to freedom for those who cannot feel its touch, and these companies can help to provide that.”

Rep. Smith has invited various US companies to testify at the hearing, including: Google, Yahoo, Microsoft and Cisco. Also scheduled to testify are: State Department Senior Advisor for China and Mongolia James Keith, State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Communications and Information Policy David Gross, Julien Pain from Reporters Without Borders and Harry Wu from the LaoGai Research Foundation.

“Years ago we fought to give Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia the capacity to empower the voices of freedom throughout communist countries and look at the success that followed,” said Smith, who authored the law to authorize Radio Free Asia to broadcast 24 hours daily. “Americans need to empower those who seek the path of democracy, not stifle their ability to speak.”

###
  
For Immediate Release: January 25, 2006
Contact: Brad Dayspring (202) 225-3765