Question

Other members of the initiative cite this victory in rejecting assertions by Microsoft, Amazon and other U.S. corporations that doing business in China legally compels them to abet government censorship efforts. What does the phrase 'abets' mean in this context?

1) assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing
2) hear a case and sit as the judge at the trial of
3) introduce or initiate
4) beg persistently and urgently

Answer 1

The term 'abets' means to assist or encourage in some wrongdoing; in the given context, it refers to U.S. corporations potentially aiding Chinese government censorship efforts.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phrase 'abets' in the context provided means to assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing. In regard to the situation described, corporations like Microsoft and Amazon are implicated in aiding the Chinese government's censorship efforts, which is considered a wrongdoing by some, particularly when it involves suppressing free expression or access to information. Companies doing business in China may find that local laws effectively require their assistance in these efforts, therefore abetting the government's censorship.

China is known to have strict control over the internet, enforcing various bans on international sites. As a result, Internet users in China rely on local media companies, which are under the country's stringent regulatory controls, to meet their online needs. The government's method includes prosecuting violators and performing other extensive measures to maintain control over the dissemination of information.