Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) has started a campaign with the aim to influence interational technology providers to operate in respect of human rights, in particular when it comes to internet, democracy and freedom of expression.
Julien Pain of RSF answers some questions.
Is the petition concerned with any other aspect of human rights, and international trade? Don't you think service and goods providers worldwide should be made to abide to an ethical code of conduct by international law?
With this campaign, we're only targeting companies working in the Internet sector, and especially Yahoo, Microsoft, Cisco, Fortinet, Secure Computing, and to a lesser extent Google. These are all American companies. So far these are the ones we know about which collaborate on online censorship with repressive regimes.
Cisco : we have a brochure where they discribe tools to help the Chinese police
If such an important case is likely to have an impact, shouldt the provision apply to any company irrespective of nationality?
It does. It's mentioned in our press release : These recommendations are addressed to the US government and US legislators because all the companies named in this document are based in the United States. Nonetheless, they concern all democratic countries and have therefore been sent to European Union officials and to the Secretary General of the OECD as well.
What international legal instruments /organisms can be used to enforce a human right provision?
The issue can be taken by the UN Global Compact. But the best solution would be an OECD recommendation, that would be then applyed by all OECD members
How long can a legislatory process like you suggest take ?
First, we're asking for self regulation. We want companies to draft a code of conduct. If they don't do it, then a legislation would be drafted. Reporters Without Borders is convinced that a law regulating the activities of Internet companies should only be drafted as a last resort, and we recommend a two-step approach. Initially, a group of congressmen should formally ask Internet corporations to reach an agreement among themselves on a code of conduct that includes the recommendations we make at the end of this document. The companies would be urged to use the help of organisations specialised in freedom of expression in drafting the document. The request would include a deadline for the companies to submit their draft code of conduct to the congressmen concernedIn the event that no satisfactory code of conduct has been drawn up when the deadline expires, or the proposed code has not been accepted by a sufficient number of representative companies, the congressmen would set about drafting a law that would aim to ensure that US companies respect freedom of expression when they are operating in repressive countries and elsewhere.
Sounds like it could take years
Well. I'm an optimist. If there's enough polical will, they can speed up the process US representatives, and even the state department, are concerned about this issue. It gives a bad image of the US
What are you doing to promote your cause internationally, and what response do you expect?
I'd be happy if 10 000 people sign our petition. Though I know it's gonna be hard to reach that many people.Then I hope our lobbying before US representatives will be fruitful. We'll see what they are ready to do
Is there any way that you can target specific user groups, setting up a Yahoo or Google campaign for example?
We are working on that, we have started asking bloggers with an interst in human rights to sign the petiion and start posting about it.
What can individuals do to support ethical business practices in general, or more specifical, to support your campaign
They can sign or petition. Link or write letters to these companies. Shareholders of these companies could also send letter to the Investor relation desks and warn them that they will sell their shares if these companies do not take recommendations into account
