Google And Facebook Executives Can Influence Belarusian Government

How can you have business in Belarus if they shut down leading news site?

Catherine Fitzpatrick, a well-known American human rights defender, blogger, journalist, translator and a friend of Belarus said this in her comments on the blocking of the Charter97.org website.

I have been a long time supporter of Charter97.org and know its vital role in keeping the people of Belarus -- and the region and the world -- informed with independent news. Right now Charter 97 is under assault and has been blocked by the Lukashenka regime -- which is a badge of honour and shows they have been doing a very necessary job.

So it's important to demand an immediate lifting of blocking from Lukashenka regime. It’s also important to copy and spread the news from the site if you can see it outside of Belarus.

Only human solidarity in the real world can help fight with an Internet Enemies -- so that means all the classic old-school work -- to do protests in the real world, trying to get the UN treaty bodies to care, trying to get business people who think they should be dealing with Belarus -- the Internet is vital to business. How can you have business in a country if they shut down a leading independent news site?

So I think it's important to try to get Google, Facebook executives who have an influence on world politics more and more not just to measure and document these blockages -- which they obsess about -- but to advocate against them. Belarus wants Google to work in Belarus or be related to Belarus. Google have leverage -- any country wants to do business and be respected and live a normal life. The Googles and Facebooks of the world have to say: want a normal life? Want respect? Don't block the independent views.