The ambivalence about the globalization of telecommunications: The story of Amnesty International, Shell Oil Company and Nigeria

A great deal of optimism has surrounded the recent globalization of telecommunications. One such benefactor of this telecommunications revolution may be international non-governmental organizations such as Amnesty International. Conceivably, human rights violations will become increasingly visible and states more accountable. However, concerns about the privatization of media and the growing involvement of multinational corporations in human rights abuses gives cause for ambivalence about the globalization of telecommunications. This article investigates the public relations battle that occurred between Amnesty International and Shell Oil Company over human rights violations in Nigeria in the 1990s, highlighting the problems of the liberalization of telecommunications.