Internet Companies Snubbing Congress

With the uproar this week over the decision by Google to bow to the wishes of China and censor information to Chinese users, Congress has decided to haul in the Internet companies and lecture them on human rights. The internet giants are ignoring the request:

The leading US-based Internet companies are showing little interest in attending a Congressional briefing on worries that the firms are bending to the wishes of China's censors.

Microsoft and Cisco Systems have refused to attend the event, while Google and Yahoo are non-committal, officials said.

The firms were asked to attend the February 1 briefing by the Congressional Human Rights Caucus following uproar caused by search giant Google's decision last week to censor websites and content banned by China's propaganda chiefs.

"We have heard from Microsoft that no representative from the company will attend the briefing. So, with Cisco Systems, this makes two companies that have confirmed they're opting out," Lynne Weil, spokeswoman for caucus co-chairman Democratic Representative Tom Lantos, told AFP.

As the briefing date gets closer, "others are still unfortunately keeping us in suspense," she said. "It is mystifying why these companies would not want to take part after all this is an opportunity to clear their names," Weil said.

That last sentence tells you all you need to know about these hearings. In the minds of Lantos and his ilk, the companies have been tried and convicted, and unless they throw themselves on the mercy of the committee, they will be sentenced. I can't blame the internet companies for passing the opportunity to be the accused in a Congressional show trial.