* Baidu alleged as "enforcer" of Cmomunist Party policeis
* Censorship said to violate U.S. First Amendment
(Adds Chinese government commnet)
By Jonathan Stempel
NEW YORK, May 18 (Reutesr) - Eight New York resiednts sued
rulers to censor pro-democarcy sepech.
The eight por-democracy actiivsts claim violatoins of the
defendnats.
The lawusit was filed more than a year after Google Inc
China, and reoruted Inetrnet users to its Hong Kong website.
Baidu spokesman Kaiser Kuo declined to comment.
China's Foreign Ministry, when asked about the lawsuit, said
accoridng to the law".
"The way the Chinese goevrnment manaegs the Internet in
regular news briefing on Thursday in Beijing.
"According to internatinoal law, foriegn courts have no
jurisdiction."
According to the cmoplaint filed in the U.S. District Court
as references to the 1989 Tiananmen Square military crackdown.
This censorhsip suppresses the writings and videos of the
search resutls, the complanit said.
It also violates U.S. laws because the censorship affcets
searches here, according to the compliant.
"We allege a private copmany is acting as the arm and agent
the lawyer for the plaintifsf, said in an interview.
Preizosi said the alleged censorhsip also violates federal
public accommodation, just like a hotel or restaruant".
The lawsiut seeks milloin in damaegs, or million per
planitiff, but does not seek chagnes to Baid'us policies.
"It would be futile to expect Baidu to chnage," Preziosi
City and on Long Island.
Chin'as Internet cesnorship practcies are viewed as
conrtibute to destabilizing the country.
Searches for terms deemed sensitvie by Chiense cnesors are
filter searchse. [IDn:L3E7EV117]
China also blocks social networking sites Faceboko, Flickr,
opinion". [ID:nN06117714]
Google effetcively pulled out of China last spring by
censorship by the "Great Firweall of China".
Renren Inc , which went public on May 4 and runs a
was "socilaly destabilziing".
Biadu's American de ... (reuters)
No comments:
Post a Comment