Two years ago, we joined a number of stakeholders with the goal of setting standards for doing business in markets that present human rights challenges. Yesterday, we unveiled the results of our collective effort -- a human rights code of conduct known as the Global Network Initiative. We’re confident this initiative creates a platform for positive change.

These principles provide a valuable roadmap for companies like Yahoo! operating in markets where freedom of expression and privacy are unfairly restricted. The code also requires that participating companies make a number of commitments (with independent accountability), including among others:

• Conducting human rights impact assessments to identify circumstances where freedom of expression and privacy may be jeopardized an advanced.
• Training employees on procedures to protect freedom of expression and privacy when faced with unfair government demands and restrictions.
• Being transparent with users when required by governments to remove content or limit access to information and ideas as well as circumstances where disclosure of personal information may be required.
• Considering challenging governments in court or other forums when faced with restrictions that appear inconsistent with domestic and international laws and standards.
• Engaging in individual and collective policy advocacy for change in places where laws or practices don’t adequately protect citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and privacy.

Does this mean repressive regimes will stop censoring content or demanding information on their own citizens? No. But, we think this initiative will eventually make it more difficult for them to do so, with companies and human rights advocates united against unreasonable and unlawful demands.

Despite the two years of arduous work among companies, human rights groups, academics, investors, and policy advocates, launching the Global Network Initiative is in many ways just the start. We expect the initiative to evolve, and we hope these standards will take root and grow into global guidelines for even more companies worldwide. All the participants in the initiative are acutely aware of today’s online challenges and we believe we’ve created a framework for addressing the trends we see for tomorrow.

The Internet is transformative. We’ve seen it empower individuals, modernize economies, improve healthcare, strengthen education and raise awareness of local, national, and international events. Today, at the start of this next phase of our collective journey in the field of business and human rights, we strive to ensure technology remains a force for good for citizens around the world. You can read more about all of our human rights efforts here.

Jerry Yang
CEO and Chief Yahoo