Who's got the rights?

We've all heard about the Google-China conflict over the past few months. Should governments regulate internet content? In America, the First Amendment allows for freedom of speech and of the press-- so we can read and say what we choose. But should all governments conform to the rights of the United States? Google claims that governments that filter the Internet are infringing on international trade and human rights.

The New York Times online recently published an article that is dealing with increasing tension between Google and China for freedom on the Internet. Alan Davidson, the public policy director for Google, told a joint congressional panel that the United States should "consider withholding development aid for countries that restrict certain Web sites." Not only is regulation of Internet restricting human rights, it is also decreasing the profit these Internet sites would make from foreign countries and their citizens. Davidson is claiming that the fight is not only with China-- it is with any government that forces internet regulation.

Now, more websites are closing their ties with China. Go Daddy Group is going to halt registration in China because they are concerned for the privacy of their users. A member of the general council of Go Daddy Group said they began questioning the privacy of their customers when Chinese officials requested photo identification and signatures of all the Chinese members. The more companies that receive these requests, the more likely the internet companies available to the Chinese will diminish.

My Communications class just finished talking about government regulation of mass media. Many Americans think there should be some regulation of content, but nothing that would infringe on the privacy of its users. As discussed above, the First Amendment allows for freedom of speech and the press. This gives Americans the right to have almost unlimited freedom when it comes to these actions. The government does, however, regulate certain aspects of mass media. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates content for television, movies, and radio broadcast to the American public. There are not many (if any) laws regulating the content on the Internet-- as long as it is not illegal (child porn, etc.).

So should companies be pulling out of countries like China in order to protest their strict Internet regulations? I'm not convinced. Although I fully believe in natural rights for humans, can these really be left to the United States to make the decision over what these rights entail? Yes, each company has the right to do as they please, but should the government get involved? I think the second the government gets involved, they are killing their own argument. Can we make a law against countries that have too many laws?

Hopefully the Chinese government will see that their regulation will end up hurting their economy and citizens because most Internet domains will pull out. Until they do, I don't think we can force our freedoms on the government (although I wish we could). All humans have certain natural rights and I eagerly await the day that all can enjoy these rights.