Yahoo, Google, Microsoft and Cisco systems have appeared before the House of Representatives (see previous posting) in connection with internet censorship in China. The internet companies were accused of colluding with China's oppressive regime and of "selling out the principles of democracy and free speech for profit by bowing to China's demands to censor web content and monitor email."

In a hearing with the House of Representatives subcommittee on global human rights, the following statement was made in connection with the internet companies' practices: "Cooperation with tyranny should not be embraced for the sake of profits."

Google was attacked by members of Congress for creating a Chinese search engine that blocks sites unacceptable to Beijing, such as those commenting on the Tianamen square massacre. Elliott Schrage, vice president of global communications for Google, defended the company's policy in the following statement: "Where there are only imperfect options, we think we have made a reasonable choice."

Yahoo claimed that the decision to disclose information about cyber dissident Shi Tao to the Chinese government had not been unethical, the company was merely complying with a request from law enforcement officials.

Yahoo further argued that "the mere presence of the internet in China would overwhelm Beijing's efforts to control the flow of information, and that censorship could not be maintained."

Source: Media Guardian

P.S. It is possible to follow the internet companies' hearings on the Committee on International Relations blog