4 ms·
I think our expectation of idealism from companies is to broad. I mean, it's great if companies take idealistic stances. But ultimately, I'm not even sure that
by netcan 10y ago
I think our expectation of idealism from companies is to broad. I mean, it's great if companies take idealistic stances. But ultimately, I'm not even sure that it's FB's place to promote democratic ideals.
Freedom of expression, association, conscience & press are political freedoms at the centre of liberal-democratic ideologies and governing systems. China is not a liberal democracy, in theory or practice. There are treaties which define these freedoms as "human rights" but I think China is a nonsignator to them.
I do believe these freedoms should be protected for everyone. But in calling for them in non-democracies, one is pretty much calling for revolution. It's reasonable for us as individual democrats (or adherents to other ideologies which believe in these freedoms) to call for these rights to be honoured in china. It's kind of wierd expecting Facebook to.
The actual lib-dem regimes (US, EU, Japan etc.) are not refusing to do business in China until they honour these freedoms.
TLDR: Expecting FB to champion the cause of liberal democratic reform in China is too much to expect.
- schoen 10y ago> There are treaties which define these freedoms as "human rights" but I think China is a nonsignator to them. The ROC drafted and signed the UDHR (not a treaty), but the PRC was then at war with the ROC and doesn't view itself as a successor state to it. The ICCPR, which is an actual treaty related to UDHR rights, was signed but not ratified by the PRC. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Covenant_on_Civil_and_Political_Rights https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Covenant_on_Civi... The Constitution of the PRC protects a broad range of political rights (!) https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China#Chapter_II._The_Fundamental_Rights_And_Duties_Of_Citizens https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_People%27... Perhaps the government's view is that articles 51-54 (on limitations of political rights) justify the very extensive restrictions that the government has put on these rights in practice.
- pimlottc 10y agoOnce a tool is built, humans find more uses for it beyond its original purpose. It doesn't matter if it was meant for another problem or region. Anti-terrorism laws, surplus military equipment, censorware for China...