WASHINGTON - US technology giants Google, Microsoft and Yahoo and a coalition of human rights and other groups on Tuesday unveiled a code of conduct aimed at protecting online freedom of speech and privacy.

The 'Global Network Initiative' brings together leading businesses, human rights organisations, academics, investors and technology leaders in a bid to 'protect and advance the human rights of freedom of expression and privacy'.

'Companies in the information and communications industries face increasing government pressure to comply with domestic laws and policies that require censorship and disclosure of personal information in ways that conflict with internationally recognised human rights laws and standards,' they said in a statement.

The initiative provides 'a systematic approach for companies, NGOs, investors, academics and others to work together in resisting efforts by governments that seek to enlist companies in acts of censorship and surveillance that violate international standards', they added.

The code of conduct is a voluntary framework to help protect people who express opinions online in countries such as China, where talk of democracy or criticism of the Communist government is treated as criminal behavior.

Yahoo was thrust into the forefront of the online rights issue after the California company helped Chinese police identify cyber dissidents whose supposed crime was expressing their views online.

Google has been criticised for complying with Chinese government's demands to filter Internet searches in that country to eliminate query results regarding topics such as democracy or Tiananmen Square.

Internet firms contend they must comply with China's laws in order to operate there.

The code of conduct requires Internet firms to narrowly interpret government requests for information or censorship and to fight to minimise cooperation. -- AFP