Rebecca MacKinnon Quotes

Author Image

Rebecca MacKinnon

Profession : Journalist

Birth : September 16, 1969

When Google went into China, there were some people who said they shouldn't compromise at all - that it is very bad for human rights to do so. But there were other people, particularly Chinese people, who said they were glad Google had gone in.

Rebecca MacKinnon

Facebook has a rule that you're not supposed to be anonymous.

Rebecca MacKinnon

There has been a rising tide of criticism about China's treatment of foreign companies.

Rebecca MacKinnon

Twitter is growing up, expanding into other countries, and recognizing that the Internet is contrary to what people hoped; the government does reach into the Internet.

Rebecca MacKinnon

Tactically, yelling at Google is unwise.

Rebecca MacKinnon

We have to start thinking of ourselves as citizens of the Internet, not just passive users. I don't see how we can bring about change in our digital lives if we don't take responsibility.

Rebecca MacKinnon

Google's entire business model and its planning for the future are banking on an open and free Internet. And it will not succeed if the Internet becomes overly balkanized.

Rebecca MacKinnon

Human freedom increasingly depends on who controls what we know and, therefore, how we understand our world. It depends on what information we are able to create and disseminate: what we can share, how we can share it, and with whom we can share it.

Rebecca MacKinnon

It would be normal for anybody running a high-profile, politically controversial operation in China to anticipate worst-case scenario, and to do everything possible to guard against them.

Rebecca MacKinnon

Even in democratic society, we don't have good answers how to balance the need for security on one hand and the protection of free speech on the other in our digital networks.

Rebecca MacKinnon

Each of us has a vital role to play in building a world in which the government and technology serve the world's people and not the other way around.

Rebecca MacKinnon

Companies have choices to make about what extent they're handling their users' content.

Rebecca MacKinnon

Freedom only remains healthy if we think about the implications of what we do on a day-to-day basis.

Rebecca MacKinnon

Google attempted to run a search engine in China, and they ended up giving up.

Rebecca MacKinnon

The user in China wants the same thing that any Internet user wants - privacy in conversations, maximum access to information, and the ability to speak their minds online.

Rebecca MacKinnon

In China, the problem is that with the system of censorship that's now in place, the user doesn't know to what extent, why, and under what authority there's been censorship. There's no way of appealing. There's no due process.

Rebecca MacKinnon

It's harder and harder for journalists to get out in the field and interview Iraqis. The Web can get these voices out easily and cheaply.

Rebecca MacKinnon

The early idealists and companies and governments have all assumed that the Internet will bring freedom. Yet China proves that this is not the case.

Rebecca MacKinnon

I don't think any foreign Internet company can effectively compete against Chinese companies in the Chinese market. The regulatory environment is so difficult that it's almost impossible for foreigners to have an advantage over locals who have better political connections and who can manipulate the regulatory system much more effectively.

Rebecca MacKinnon

There is a broad movement that has been holding companies accountable on human rights for a long time.

Rebecca MacKinnon