We have an update on our post last week about a union of technology companies, academics and human rights groups seeking to develop a set of principles for Western businesses operating in countries where it has proven all too easy for them to become — or at least appear to become — accomplices to regimes that repress free speech, privacy and other basic rights...Among the participants in the new working group were Yahoo, Google and Microsoft...We noted...that...Cisco...was missing from the new congregation...We asked the company why, and here is its response...: Thank you for reaching out to us on this issue. First, we’re proud of our role in spreading Internet access worldwide and we promote the use of the Internet for free expression and open communications. Cisco does not participate in any way with censorship by governments. Further, specifically to this blog entry, we are open to discussions with organizations such as these, but we have not signed on to it. Lastly, we are proud of all we have done with Corporate Social Responsibility in the U.S. and around the world and would love for any and all to check out our second Annual Corporate Citizenship Report...