Cross-national information policy conflict regarding access to information: building a conceptual framework

ABSTRACT

This paper addresses cross-national information policy conflict regarding access to information. This type of information policy conflict appears more complex and controversial than conflicts within one country's territory. The paper attempts to explore the nature of this cross-national conflict. The responses of the US and Chinese governments and the practices of three multinational companies Yahoo, Microsoft and Google are studied and analyzed. Two frameworks, Galvin's typology of information policy issues and Rowlands' structure of information policy, are used as foundations for analysis. Based upon those analyses, the paper develops a conceptual framework to model cross-national conflict regarding access to information. The paper also discusses the implications for policymakers and raises a number of critical questions that practitioners and scholars need to consider. In the end, the paper concludes with calls for multi-disciplinary and multi-national approaches to tackle the issue.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.5 LEGAL ASPECTS OF COMPUTING
      K.5.2 Governmental Issues

General Terms:
Legal Aspects

Keywords:
access to information, conflict, cross-national, information policy, international