In a move to deflect criticism that it helped provide data to Chinese authorities, Yahoo (YHOO) has issued a statement about how it plans to work with governments and users around the world to fulfill its corporate social responsibility.

Though Yahoo failed to mention China by name, its statement was clearly made to pacify the company's critics who say the company helped jail opponents of the Chinese government.

The company says it will work with industry, government, academia, and organizations to explore policies to guide industry practices in countries where content is treated more restrictively than in the United States and to promote the principles of freedom of speech and expression.

Yahoo also says that when a government requests it to restrict search results, it will do so if required by applicable law and only in a way that impacts the results as narrowly as possible.

Yahoo continues by saying that if it is required to restrict search results, it will strive to achieve maximum transparency to the user.