The association will play a guiding role in cybersecurity governance, help promote self-discipline in the industry and push for the establishment of industry standards, according to a statement on the internet regulator’s website.

Private companies and public universities will be active participants. But privacy might be a bit of an issue . . .

Joshua Rosenzweig, an independent researcher on human rights, said by vowing to actively facilitate the government’s cybersecurity measures, these companies were giving away their responsibility to respect privacy and freedom of expression to business interests.

“I’m not surprised at all that companies are lining up to be part of this effort, but I’m disappointed,” he said.

“From a business perspective, I guess that’s probably understandable, because they’re trying to avoid political risks. But when it comes to the responsibility to respect human rights, they failed.