CyberLaw Blog

Archive for the ‘Code of Conduct’ Category

YaGoogleSoft! adopt voluntary ‘code of ethics’: “

No more grassing up Chinese dissidents?

The US’s Center for Democracy & Technology has announced that after two years of negotiations, Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft will in the next few days adopt a voluntary code of ethics ‘intended to safeguard online freedom of speech around the world’.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

‘Notice-and-Take-Down’: “Dutch ‘Notice-and-Take-Down’ Code of Conduct issued
Minister for Foreign Trade Heemskerk kicked off the ‘Notice-and-Take-Down’ Code of Conduct in The Hague. The Code sets out how internet companies are to handle reports about illegal websites. Under the terms of the Code of Conduct, illegal websites hosted from the Netherlands will eventually be removed.

‘We have already made substantial progress fighting spam, spyware and malware. These agreements now help us tackle other illegal activities on the internet, including handling stolen goods, discrimination or phishing’, says Mr Heemskerk.

The code of Conduct is based on good practices from businesses, governments and other parties involved in fighting cybercrime. The Code has been drawn up under the flag of the National Infrastructure Cybercrime (Ministry of Economic Affairs) by market parties including KPN, XS4ALL, ISPConnect, Dutch Hosting Provider Association, NLKabel, Ziggo, UPC, CAIW, Zeelandnet and SIDN. Ministries, the police and investigation services and organisations including Marktplaats/eBay and the BREIN foundations collaborated in setting up the code. ‘Affiliated businesses – 85% of all access providers and several hosting providers – hereby send a clear signal that the internet is not to be used for illegal practices. I call upon others to follow their lead’, says Heemskerk.

Those responsible for placing illegal content on the internet are often difficult to trace. As reports about illegal Dutch sites are rarely acted upon, these sites often remain online. The Code sets out the agreements between participants and their specific roles in dealing with reports they receive. In principle, internet users can report any illegal content they come across to those responsible for placing the content on the net. If this is not possible or if they don’t know who to approach, users can report their find to the next party down the chain. This may be the manager of a discussion forum, the company that hosts the relevant website, the service provider or, as a last resort, the police. These other parties in the chain will make every effort to get the information off line. The new Code will become effective today, Thursday October 9th.

According to Heemskerk, the Code is a great example of public-private cooperation. ‘We will follow up later this year with more measures to fight cybercrime. For instance, once passed by the Senate, a ban on sending spam to companies will be introduced from early next year’, he says.

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(Via .)

: “Protecting human rights on the Internet

Council of Europe launches guidelines in cooperation with online games and Internet service providers

(03/10/08) The Council of Europe today launched, in close cooperation with European online game designers and publishers and with Internet service providers, two sets of guidelines which aim to encourage respect and promote privacy, security and freedom of expression when, for example, accessing the Internet, using e-mail, participating in chats or blogs, or playing Internet games.

See guidelines for:
- online games providers [pdf, 1542KB]
- Internet service providers [pdf, 1599KB]“

(Via .)

Internet firms agree to ‘code of conduct’ in China: “

Just days before the Olympic torch will reach Beijing, Internet leaders Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft say they are close to an agreement on a code of conduct for doing business in China and other countries that censor the Internet.

Sen. Dick Durbin on Monday released separate letters from the companies, …

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(Via The Iconoclast.)

Durbin Says Internet Giants Close to Agreement on Code of Conduct  (8-4-2008)

Monday, August 4, 2008

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that a number of the largest American internet companies, human rights organizations and other stakeholders have reached agreement on a voluntary code of conduct that would govern internet companies operating in countries where internet freedom is restricted, like China. The participants are now reviewing the agreement for final approval.

‘I commend Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft, and other participants for agreeing on the principles of an internet freedom code of conduct,’ Durbin said. ‘This code of conduct would be one important step toward our shared goals of promoting freedom of expression and protecting the privacy of internet users around the world. I look forward to learning more about the details this agreement and whether it will adequately regulate American companies operating in internet-restricting countries.’

On July 21, Senator Durbin, the Chairman of the Human Rights and the Law Subcommittee, and Senator Tom Coburn, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, wrote to the CEOs of Google, Yahoo!, and Microsoft, urging them to finalize and implement the code of conduct as soon as possible. Durbin and Coburn have received responses from the three companies stating that they had reached an agreement in principle on the code of conduct.

Durbin noted that American internet companies have an obligation to resist censorship and protect fundamental human rights even before the code of conduct is finalized.

‘While the code of conduct is being finalized, I urge American internet companies operating in repressive countries to do everything possible to resist censorship and protect user privacy and freedom of expression, especially with the Olympics beginning in China later this week. We must ensure that American companies operating in repressive regimes protect fundamental human rights,’ said Durbin.

Durbin’s and Coburn’s inquiry followed a hearing on global internet freedom that Durbin chaired in the Human Rights and the Law Subcommittee on May 20.