Two months after the internet giant ceased to self-censor its Chinese search engine, Google will forward now Chinese users directly to corresponding pages in Hong Kong.
“It’s a step in the right direction that Google takes its social responsibility seriously and decides to not follow the Chinese authorities’ demands for censorship,” said John Peder Egenæs (picture below), Secretary General of Amnesty International Norway.
Must stop censorship
Chinese authorities have accused Google of “politicizing commercial matters”, but Amnesty is crystal clear in the requirement of the Chinese government.
“China restricts today freedom of expression for one-fifth of the world’s population. This is completely unacceptable. the People´s Republic of China must take Google’s decision as a clear signal that human rights are not internal political affairs. the People´s Republic of China must stop censorship,” said Egenæs.
Can block sites
The Chinese authorities can still choose to block access to google.com.hk, the pages of Hong Kong, for users in the People´s Republic of China. Several Chinese users have expressed concern about this.
Chinese users who hoped that Google would not leave the People´s Republic of China, should ask their government why it evaluates
the Internet, encourages Egenæs.
Amnesty censored
Except for a brief period between July and December 2008, in connection with the Olympic Games, the Amnesty International website www.amnesty.org has been blocked for users in the People´s Republic of China.
Amnesty has long worked against Internet censorship in the People´s Republic of China and campaigned on behalf of several activists who have been jailed after having spread information online, including Liu Xiabo and Tan Zouren.
Related links:
Index on Censorship welcomes Google stand on free expression
