Published: May 06, 2008
Does Google Abet Human Rights Violations in China?
Thursday resolution mandates board level 'human rights committee' at tech giant
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Ca. - Continuing human rights violations in China - and the role of U.S. technology firms in those abuses - will be the impetus for a dramatic resolution to be introduced here Thursday asking Google Inc. at its annual board meeting to create a board of directors level Committee on Human Rights.
A news conference to discuss the Google resolution will be held THURSDAY, at 10:30 a.m. at Amnesty International USA, (1663 Mission Street, Suite 604, San Francisco phone 415-252-1750). Representatives of AI and Harrington investments will participate.
Harrington Investments, Inc. (HII), a Napa-based socially responsible investment advisory firm, filed a binding bylaw amendment at Google, which until recently has enjoyed a reputation for being an unambiguous leader of corporate social responsibility.
"The directors at Google have failed to demonstrate they are able to adapt to the reality that the protection of human rights is now a real element of fiduciary responsibility and obligation for corporate directors. Failure to articulate universal and morally defensible human rights policies can result in significant costs to shareholders," said John Harrington, President and CEO of Harrington Investments.
Google has come under heavy criticism for restricting internet content that the Chinese government deems subversive. Such blatant inhibitions of the free flow of information are commonplace in the People's Republic of China. Google's refusal to disclose the search results it filters, or to challenge the Chinese government on violations of its own constitution only furthers the abuses there.
Human rights and democracy advocates do note that Google, along with other leading US technology firms, have helped to build the "Great Firewall of China," a Chinese government initiative that restricts and monitors the flow of information being transmitted over the internet within China. Google's influential internet presence makes its pliant policy particularly significant.
"Shareholder sponsored Human Rights Committees are one of our only means of reminding corporate directors they are fiduciaries before costly scandals arise. Directors are responsible for overseeing global management. Their decisions can lead to - or forestall - human rights violations. Associated legal and market liabilities are not trivial," Harrington said.
"While Google claims it has little power and is unable to stand up to governments like China, the company does not support the Global Online Freedom Act of 2007, which empowers the U.S. to help resist the censorship efforts of foreign authorities," said Robert Rossof, Business & Economic Relations Specialist for Amnesty International USA. "The company's refusal to stand up to the Chinese government calls into question whether Google is serious about addressing these problems, and demonstrates why a Board Committee on Human Rights is so critical," he added.
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