Google, Microsoft and Yahoo should be developing new technologies to bypass government sensors and barriers to the Internet; but instead, they agreed to guard the gates themselves.
Tom LantosRead
Let me start with Yahoo. As we meet today, a Chinese citizen who had the courage to speak his mind on the Internet is in prison because Yahoo chose to share his name and address with the Chinese Government.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the consequences of corporate decisions on individual freedoms and the importance of standing up for human rights.
Tom Lantos's quote reflects on the grave ethical implications surrounding the decisions of corporations like Yahoo, particularly when they choose compliance over moral duty. The imprisonment of a Chinese citizen for expressing his views online illustrates the severe risks faced by individuals in oppressive regimes, and it serves as a poignant reminder of the responsibility that companies bear in the protection of human rights.
Themes
CourageFreedomEthicsCorporate ResponsibilityHuman Rights
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on human rights, one might say, 'As Tom Lantos pointed out, the courage of individuals can be undermined by corporate actions.'
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