European Union slams Microsoft, Yahoo and Google over China

EC VICE president Margot Wallstroem has accused Microsoft, Yahoo and Google of having flexible morals when it comes to dealing with China.

Writing in her bog, Wallstroem criticised the three companies for helping China silence its domestic critics.

She said that Vole, Yahoo and Google were matching their morals to suit new markets and had words such as "ethics" and "corporate social responsibility" from their codes of conduct.

Wallstroem was furious at the lengths Microsoft, Yahoo and Google have gone to in order to accommodate the wishes of the Chinese government.

She said that the firms "had flexible ethical standards depending on where they operate" but suggested the companies to read the UN Global Compact which stresses the need for uniting business goals and human rights.

Date Posted: 20 December 2005 Last Modified: 20 December 2005