Rights Group Sues Yahoo Over Arrests in China
SHANGHAI, CHINA - A human rights group sued Yahoo this week, accusing the Internet giant of abetting the torture of pro-democracy writers by releasing data that allowed China’s government to identify them.The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, says the company was complicit in the arrests of 57-year-old Wang Xiaoning and other Chinese Internet activists. The suit is the latest development in a campaign by advocacy groups to spotlight the conduct of U.S. companies in China.
The suit, in trying to hold Yahoo accountable, could become an important test case. Advocacy groups are seeking to use a 217-year-old U.S. law to punish corporations for human rights violations abroad, an effort the Bush administration has opposed.
In 2003, Wang began serving a 10-year sentence on charges that he incited subversion with online treatises criticizing the government. He is named as a plaintiff in the Yahoo suit, filed with help from the World Organization for Human Rights USA, based in Washington.
Yahoo is guilty of “an act of corporate irresponsibility,” said Morton Sklar, executive director of the group. “Yahoo had reason to know that if they provided China with identification information that those individuals would be arrested.”
The suit says that in 2001, Wang was using a Yahoo e-mail account to post anonymous writings. The suit alleges that Yahoo, under pressure from the Chinese government, blocked that account. Wang set up a new account via Yahoo; the suit alleges that Yahoo gave the government information that allowed it to identify and arrest Wang in September 2002.
Jim Cullinan, a spokesman for Yahoo, of Sunnyvale, Calif., said he could not comment on the suit or the specifics of Wang’s case, but he said Yahoo condemns the suppression of speech.
Companies that do business in other countries have to follow the laws of that country or their employees could be subject to penalties, he said.
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Publishing Company
What’s a few imprisoned/tortured slant-eyes compared to the profit potential of doing business with China.
“It’s easier to thread a camel through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven”
Too bad christians don’t seem to ever read that page of their book
Right, or “I am my brothers keeper” or “love your enemies as you would me”… The entire Beatitudes…
It is important for Yahoo users to let the company know that their complicity in the suppression of free speech is not acceptable. If that has no effect, then they need to be boycotted so that their shares lose value. Maybe monetary repercussions will get their attention.
It is a shame that Yahoo! would do such a thing. I am sure it was a part of their agreement with China in order to access such a huge market.
I will add one thing which is going to sound bad. If I were living in a coutry where I knew that I could be imprisoned for criticizing the government, I would not do it. Even in the USA, I am careful to never make offhand remarks which might be interpreted in a bad light by my government. This includes the telephone, Internet, and mail. It’s a shame but I think it’s the wise thing to do. I keep my comments from creeping into an area where it may sound like I am making some sort of threat, even though I am joking and would never do such a thing. But that is the reality of today’s world. All dissenters must be careful because you never know who is listening. Paranoid? Yes, a little. But I think and ounce of prevention is better than a pound for the cure.
I sincerely hope this man is able to make his way out of this problem. He was only speaking his mind.
Yahoo is guilty of U.S. “business as usual” ROFL, it’s similar to what our whores in legislature let ‘em do here. hell have let em do it for EVER.. Screw the drones senseless,…..make 100’s of millions, catch ‘em,…fine ‘em a FRACTION of what they made,…then quietly let ‘em APPEAL the “fine” to cents on the dollar so the sheeple will bleat as one,….”YEAH-ah-ah-ah! WE showed THEM!!
Wake up,…Nationalize energy/communications!!
Speech suppression under the current administration has laid the ground work where corporate American feels they can do anything they wish.
There is speech suppression within the US. It just does not get the press.
HamiltonCountyRupublicanparty.com
http://HamiltonCountyRepublicanParty.com
To the first two posts- This has nothing to do with Christianity… If you’re connecting America and Christianity- look around! America is NOT, never was, and never will be a Chritian nation. If you read the Bible you might know that too.
To!…….. Hybridoma
Yes it does sound bad! And it doesn’t help the situation were in one bit if we don’t Shout it Loud and Clear.
We all need to be Pro-Active in our dissent. Your bravery will attract those on the fence to the cause of preserving our Democracy and OUR RIGHTS.
When They Come To Get Your Neighbor ….. Stand With Him
Boycott Yahoo.
Donate to ‘World Organization for Human Rights USA
……………….. A KNESAL
If Your Not Willing To Bravely Stand Up For (Our) Rights, Your Not Worthy!
Donate to …..’World Organizationfor Human Rights USA’
www.humanrightsusa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=6