There are more ways to spread more ideas to more people than at any moment in history... [But these] tools are also being exploited to undermine human progress and political rights... [T]echnologies with the potential to open up access to government and promote transparency can also be hijacked by governments to crush dissent and deny human rights... For companies, this issue…comes down to the trust between firms and their customers. Consumers everywhere want to have confidence that the internet companies they rely on will provide comprehensive search results and act as responsible stewards of their own personal information... And censorship should not be in any way accepted by any company from anywhere... [We] are urging U.S. media companies to take a proactive role in challenging foreign governments’ demands for censorship and surveillance. The private sector has a shared responsibility to help safeguard free expression. And when their business dealings threaten to undermine this freedom, they need to consider what’s right, not simply what’s a quick profit. We’re also encouraged by the work that’s being done through the Global Network Initiative... [refers to Google, Microsoft]