Press freedom in the news 10/29/08

The launch of the Global Network Initiative, a set of principles outlying how Internet companies should conduct themselves in countries that stifle free speech, is making news this morning with the official Web site, Globalnetworkinitiative.org, going live today. Forbes.com, TechNewsWorld, and PCMag.com are all running stories about three major tech companies and human rights organizations agreeing to the “Principles on Freedom of Expression and Privacy.”

The New York TimesThe Wall Street JournalReuters, and The Associated Press all had coverage of the initiative yesterday, which was created by a group from Yahoo, Google, and Microsoft as well as human rights organizations including CPJHuman Rights in China, and Human Rights First.

CPJ sent out our own press release on our involvement with the initiative late yesterday.

Also in the news today, Web site Asia Sentinel has an article about the problems facing the press in Malaysia and cites CPJ’s work on the case of jailed blogger Abdul Rashid Abu Bakar.