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Yahoo in China human rights
case
BBC
Tuesday Aug 28, 2007
A human rights group
in the US is suing Yahoo for alleged complicity in rights abuses
and acts of torture in China.
The World Organization for Human Rights says Yahoo's sharing
of information with the Chinese government has led to the arrests
of writers and dissidents.
One journalist cited in the case was tracked down and jailed
for 10 years for subversion after Yahoo passed on his e-mail and
IP address to officials.
Yahoo insists it must comply with local laws in areas where it
operates.
But it acknowledges that providing Chinese officials with information
has enabled them to make arrests.
(Article continues below)
In a statement, Yahoo said it supported privacy and free expression
and added that it was working with other technology companies
to find a way to address human rights concerns.
De-listed sites
The human rights group has brought the case in San Francisco
on behalf of the journalist, Shi Tao, and another named Wang Xiaoning.
The men's defence lawyer said Yahoo should have asked the Chinese
government why it wanted information about the two men before
handing it over. He said Yahoo had failed to live up to its ethical
responsibilities.
The BBC's David Willis in California says the case has prompted
debate about the responsibility of US internet companies to protect
the anonymity of users in the countries in which they operate.
Strict laws exist in China to regulate the internet. Shi Tao
was jailed for posting comments critical of government corruption
on the web.
Yahoo is not the only internet company accused of collaborating
with Chinese authorities. Rivals Google freely admit to blocking
politically sensitive items on their China website.
Whole websites - including media sources - are eliminated from
Yahoo and Google in China.
De-listed sites are skipped over when the search engine trawls
the web for results.
The internet firms argue it is better to offer Chinese users
some information than none at all.
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