William H. Gates, Chairman
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052-6399

RE: Don’t put profits ahead of human rights!

Dear Mr. Gates,

I am very disturbed that in the pursuit of new and lucrative markets, your company is contributing to human rights violations, in particular abuses to freedom of expression and information. This issue is especially evident in China, where Microsoft has signed the government’s controversial Public Pledge of self-discipline for the China Internet Industry, which has led your company to block searches under certain keywords including "democracy", "freedom", "human rights", Falun Gong", and "demonstration", among others. As a result, websites and webpages dealing with human rights, including many of those of Amnesty International and other human rights organizations, are inaccessible to internet users in China. I was especially disturbed by reports that Microsoft cooperated with Chinese authorities to shut down the controversial blog of Zhao Jing, a Beijing-based researcher for the New York Times, who had posted articles critical of a management shakedown at Beijing News.

Though I acknowledge the new policy recently adopted by Microsoft purportedly to address some of these issues, I remain deeply distressed by your company’s evident willingness to support censorship. The fact that the company acts in compliance with restrictive domestic law does not exempt it from its international human rights responsibilities if complying with such request contributes to human rights violations.

Internet companies have an invaluable role to play in the realization of freedom of expression and information, and it shocks me that Microsoft would compromise this goal in pursuit of profit. I urge Microsoft to guarantee the anonymity of its users and to conduct its internet business in China, and everywhere it operates, in a manner that respects human rights, abides by international human rights standards and avoids complicity in human rights violations

I also urge you to develop an explicit human rights policy, ensuring that it complies with the UN Norms for Business and does not unconditionally allow censorship of the internet but, on the contrary, challenges requests that are a violation of international human rights standards. You should make clear to the Chinese authorities as well as to the global community that Microsoft is not willing to assist governments in implementing their systems of internet censorship, or to provide information directed at restricting freedom of expression.

And I urge you to put pressure on the Chinese government to remove blockages on websites that deal with democracy, human rights, freedom, or that peacefully articulate opinions on religion or politics; to stop the filtering of key words on the Chinese internet, including words such as human rights, democracy, freedom and Falun Gong; and to ensure the Chinese public has uninhibited access to the full range of information available on the web in line with international standards on freedom of expression and freedom of information. I will join millions of concerned Americans and internet users in closely following your actions in these vital matters.

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