Self-discipline Convention on Internet Search Engine Services Signed in Beijing
2012-11-03 14:38
In the afternoon of November 1, 2012, Internet Society of China (ISC) held the signing ceremony of Self-discipline Convention on Internet Search Engine Services (hereafter referred to as “Convention”). Twelve search engine companies signed the Convention at the signing ceremony. The signing ceremony was presided over by Mr. LU Wei, the Secretary-general of ISC.
Madam HU Qiheng, the President of ISC introduced that search engine services has become the top Internet application over decade years’ development. As search engine services developed towards comprehensive and intensive services of multi-channel, multi-service, there arose some problems and contradictions which may impact the user’s experience and deterred the development of Internet industry.
The formulation of the Convention fully demonstrated the Internet spirit. On the one hand, the Convention showed full respect and affirmation to Robots Exclusion Protocol, which is not a legal provision but an international consensus within Internet industry; on the other hand, Internet came into being with the feature of self-governance. Along with the development of Internet technology application, there may emerge some new problems. So, it is expected that these Internet disputes could be resolved based on the principle of integrity and self-governance. Since the mid-end of August, ISC organized and launched self-regulation work on Internet search engine services so as to protect user’s interests, maintain the market environment of fare competition and sound order and to promote healthy and sustainable development of Internet search engine industry. On the basis of survey and repeatedly discussions and negotiations, the Self-discipline Convention on Internet Search Engine Services was jointly formulated with a multistakeholder basic.
The Convention is composed of four chapters and 22 items, applying to the organization members of ISC and the Internet companies that willingly sign the Convention. And, it is proposed that other Internet companies could comply with the Convention too. The Convention holds the basic principles of abiding by the law and being integrity, fair, neutral and objective and follows the Internet spirits of open, equal, collaboration and sharing. The Internet companies are suggested to resist the spread of obscenity and pornographic contents, comply with the general international convention and rules, follow the Robots Exclusion Protocol and the principles of fair, open and unrestrained flow of information, so as to create an environment for innovation and fair competition, where the intellectual property and right holder’s legal rights are respected and protected, user’s privacy and personal information security are protect and the improper competitions are prevented.
Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) recognized the achievements that ISC has made in driving search engine service healthy development and affirmed the positive significance of the Convention. Also, MIIT gave some specific suggestions. Firstly, the search engine companies should actively comply with the Convention; secondly, the companies should abide by the rules of Internet information service market management formulated by MIIT; and thirdly, the publicity of the Convention and social supervision should be strengthened.
Twelve search engine companies signed the Convention and they positively expressed that they will comply with the rules of the Convention, improve services and enhance user’s experience, making sound contributions in driving search engine service industry for healthy development.
Appendix:
1.The definition of Robots Exclusion Protocol.
Web Robots (also known as Web Wanderers, Crawlers, or Spiders), are programs that traverse the Web automatically. Search engines such as Google use them to index the web content, spammers use them to scan for email addresses, and they have many other uses.
Web site owners use the /robots.txt file to give instructions about their site to web robots; this is called The Robots Exclusion Protocol.
(Source: www.robotstxt.org)
2.The list of the twelve search engine companies that signed the Convention
Baidu, Jike, Panguso, Qihu 360, Cloudary, Sogou, Tencent, Netease, Sina, Easou, Yicha and Zhongsou
Madam HU Qiheng, the President of ISC introduced that search engine services has become the top Internet application over decade years’ development. As search engine services developed towards comprehensive and intensive services of multi-channel, multi-service, there arose some problems and contradictions which may impact the user’s experience and deterred the development of Internet industry.
The formulation of the Convention fully demonstrated the Internet spirit. On the one hand, the Convention showed full respect and affirmation to Robots Exclusion Protocol, which is not a legal provision but an international consensus within Internet industry; on the other hand, Internet came into being with the feature of self-governance. Along with the development of Internet technology application, there may emerge some new problems. So, it is expected that these Internet disputes could be resolved based on the principle of integrity and self-governance. Since the mid-end of August, ISC organized and launched self-regulation work on Internet search engine services so as to protect user’s interests, maintain the market environment of fare competition and sound order and to promote healthy and sustainable development of Internet search engine industry. On the basis of survey and repeatedly discussions and negotiations, the Self-discipline Convention on Internet Search Engine Services was jointly formulated with a multistakeholder basic.
The Convention is composed of four chapters and 22 items, applying to the organization members of ISC and the Internet companies that willingly sign the Convention. And, it is proposed that other Internet companies could comply with the Convention too. The Convention holds the basic principles of abiding by the law and being integrity, fair, neutral and objective and follows the Internet spirits of open, equal, collaboration and sharing. The Internet companies are suggested to resist the spread of obscenity and pornographic contents, comply with the general international convention and rules, follow the Robots Exclusion Protocol and the principles of fair, open and unrestrained flow of information, so as to create an environment for innovation and fair competition, where the intellectual property and right holder’s legal rights are respected and protected, user’s privacy and personal information security are protect and the improper competitions are prevented.
Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) recognized the achievements that ISC has made in driving search engine service healthy development and affirmed the positive significance of the Convention. Also, MIIT gave some specific suggestions. Firstly, the search engine companies should actively comply with the Convention; secondly, the companies should abide by the rules of Internet information service market management formulated by MIIT; and thirdly, the publicity of the Convention and social supervision should be strengthened.
Twelve search engine companies signed the Convention and they positively expressed that they will comply with the rules of the Convention, improve services and enhance user’s experience, making sound contributions in driving search engine service industry for healthy development.
Appendix:
1.The definition of Robots Exclusion Protocol.
Web Robots (also known as Web Wanderers, Crawlers, or Spiders), are programs that traverse the Web automatically. Search engines such as Google use them to index the web content, spammers use them to scan for email addresses, and they have many other uses.
Web site owners use the /robots.txt file to give instructions about their site to web robots; this is called The Robots Exclusion Protocol.
(Source: www.robotstxt.org)
2.The list of the twelve search engine companies that signed the Convention
Baidu, Jike, Panguso, Qihu 360, Cloudary, Sogou, Tencent, Netease, Sina, Easou, Yicha and Zhongsou
