Yahoo Writer Jailed in China
Just some few hours ago, Internet portal Yahoo provided information about another of its members to the Chinese government, leading to the second such arrest uncovered in recent months, a journalist rights group charged on Thursday.
Reporters Without Borders said Li Zhi, a Yahoo customer and “cyberdissident,” received an eight-year prison sentence in December 2003 based on electronic records supplied by Yahoo.
The group claims 49 cyberdissidents and 32 journalists are currently in prison in China for posting articles and criticism of the authorities on the Internet. It believes that the identities of many of these people were revealed by companies like Yahoo.
The group believes that Yahoo is bending it's rules to fit the communist regime.
Shares of Yahoo fell $0.33 to $32.67 in recent trading.
Yahoo spokesperson Mary Osako, in their defense,pointed out that Yahoo’s Chinese partner, Alibaba, has been managing all the operational and compliance policies for Yahoo’s China business since October 2005.
In cases prior to that time, she said that Yahoo was not aware of why the Chinese government was seeking information. “As in most jurisdictions, including the U.S., governments are not required to inform service providers about why they are seeking information,” said Ms. Osako.
“We would not know if a request had to do with murder, kidnapping, or a political request,” she added. “We only responded with what we were legally required to provide and nothing more. We are rigorous in our procedures and made sure that only the required material was provided.”
via RedHerring
Reporters Without Borders said Li Zhi, a Yahoo customer and “cyberdissident,” received an eight-year prison sentence in December 2003 based on electronic records supplied by Yahoo.
The group claims 49 cyberdissidents and 32 journalists are currently in prison in China for posting articles and criticism of the authorities on the Internet. It believes that the identities of many of these people were revealed by companies like Yahoo.
The group believes that Yahoo is bending it's rules to fit the communist regime.
Shares of Yahoo fell $0.33 to $32.67 in recent trading.
Yahoo spokesperson Mary Osako, in their defense,pointed out that Yahoo’s Chinese partner, Alibaba, has been managing all the operational and compliance policies for Yahoo’s China business since October 2005.
In cases prior to that time, she said that Yahoo was not aware of why the Chinese government was seeking information. “As in most jurisdictions, including the U.S., governments are not required to inform service providers about why they are seeking information,” said Ms. Osako.
“We would not know if a request had to do with murder, kidnapping, or a political request,” she added. “We only responded with what we were legally required to provide and nothing more. We are rigorous in our procedures and made sure that only the required material was provided.”
via RedHerring
posted by Othniel at 6:07 PM
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