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It's actually quite disappointing that the six-page principles
outlining "priorities for the business community" do not contain a
single reference to "human rights". <br>
<br>
When the document refers to the need of establishing "international
commitments" on, inter alia, "expressly prohibit[ing] restrictions
on legitimate cross‐border information flows", the narrow focus
becomes very much apparent. These commitments already largely exist:
they are called human rights. <br>
<br>
Clearly, a business case can be (also) made for human rights
diplomacy. Relying on existing human rights law and calling states
to account for violations of information and communication freedoms
is the shared responsiblity of all stakeholders, including
companies. <br>
<br>
The business community has shown that it is sometimes not afraid to
call human rights by their name, as does for example the Global
Network Initiative. <br>
<br>
Kind regards<br>
<br>
Matthias<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Am 05.11.2011 13:56, schrieb McTim:
<blockquote
cite="mid:CACAaNxirbJKjtzqWb8SyT9Kvrrnc=7XSNQm32pDn4+x-ZMuMhg@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div><br>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);
font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; ">
<h3 class="post-title" style="margin-top: 0.25em; margin-right:
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px;
padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px;
font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em;
color: rgb(0, 107, 136); ">
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/2011/11/advancing-free-flow-of-information.html"
style="display: block; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0,
107, 136); font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px;
padding-bottom: 0px; ">Advancing the free flow of
information</a></h3>
<div class="post-body">
<h2 class="date-header" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right:
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal
normal normal 95%/normal Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(102,
102, 102); padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px;
padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">
Friday, November 4, 2011 at 12:28 PM ET</h2>
<span class="byline-author" style="margin-top: 0px;
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;
padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;
padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); ">Posted by
Winter Casey, Senior Policy Analyst, Google</span><span
class="byline-author" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right:
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px;
padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px;
color: rgb(102, 102, 102); "><br>
</span>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; ">The
global economy relies on the free flow of information more
than ever before. Companies large and small can use the
Internet to reach new markets, which contributes to economic
growth, job creation, and increased trade around the world. <br>
<br>
But as companies and individuals are transmitting more
information online, some governments are seeking to impose
limits on the free flow of information. More than 40
governments now block or restrict information and data
available on the Internet. <br>
<br>
Last year, we released a <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.google.com/googleblogs/pdfs/trade_free_flow_of_information.pdf">white
paper</a> demonstrating that governments which block the
free flow of information on the Internet are also blocking
trade and economic growth. For example, when companies can’t
confidentially and confidently transmit the files and
information that are necessary to keep their business
running, their ability to export goods and services is hurt.
The thesis is simple: when countries support the free flow
of information, they will see more economic growth. <br>
<br>
That’s why we joined companies like Citi, Microsoft, IBM, GE
and others to endorse a new set of principles endorsing the
free flow of information across borders. The <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.nftc.org/default/Innovation/PromotingCrossBorderDataFlowsNFTC.pdf">principles</a>,
written under the leadership of the National Foreign Trade
Council, outline several priorities for the U.S. business
community which will promote transparent, fair, and secure
cross-border data flows. <br>
<br>
Individuals and businesses will benefit from a more
consistent and transparent framework for the treatment of
cross-border flows of goods, services and information. We
look forward to continued work with governments and industry
to advance the free flow of information online.</p>
</div>
</span><br>
------------------
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Principles are here:</div>
<div><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.nftc.org/default/Innovation/PromotingCrossBorderDataFlowsNFTC.pdf">http://www.nftc.org/default/Innovation/PromotingCrossBorderDataFlowsNFTC.pdf</a><br>
<br>
-- <br>
Cheers,<br>
<br>
McTim<br>
"A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it
is. A route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel<br>
<br>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
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