DailyTech - Yahoo's Actions Linked to Another Jailed Chinese Writer

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Internet Yahoo's Actions Linked to Another Jailed Chinese Writer
Michael Hoffman (Blog) - May 1, 2006 12:31 AM

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17 comment(s) - last by Mudvillager.. on May 2 at 1:46 PM

Yahoo is allegedly responsible for helping the Chinese government arrest several Chinese writers and journalists

The decision for companies to censor material in China has not been the most popular decision, but most readers seem to understand why companies are doing it -- on the other hand, most of you don't agree with Yahoo allegedly helping the Chinese government jail journalists and reporters. Yahoo is walking a fine line in China: How much is too much? Although the company will receive some negative criticism for censoring material, having people arrested is much more harmful. Wang Xiaoning was jailed for 10 years in 2003 on charges of incitement to subvert state power -- with Yahoo partially to thank.

InfoWorld claims the Chinese writer was jailed in 2003 due to Yahoo's co-operation with the Chinese government in tracking his identity down via email and news group postings. Yahoo provided information on the email address used by the writer at the Chinese government's request. Wang received a ten year sentence for "incitement to subvert state power."

Yahoo has been accused two times in three months of helping the Chinese government arrest and convict writers in China. Earlier in the year, Li Zhi, a political activist and former government official, was sentenced to eight years in prison. The case of Xiaoning Wang was from several years ago, but apparently details of his imprisonment were just released recently.

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Wow

By Connoisseur on 5/1/2006 2:47:09 AM , Rating: 2

Good lord. As if censoring material wasn't bad enough. I can't believe an American company is cooperating with a foreign government to capture people who, by American standards, were exercising their free speech. Welcome to the bottom line. It's news like this that almost makes me lose faith in this country.

RE: Wow

By crazycarl on 5/1/2006 3:04:19 AM , Rating: 2

they would do it just as quick for this county too if they thought it would increase their market share / penetration / profit

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RE: Wow

By Shenkoa on 5/1/06, Rating: 0

RE: Wow

By Mudvillager on 5/2/2006 1:46:27 PM , Rating: 2

how many times am i gonna have to repeat this, it's bastard not basterd!!!

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RE: Wow

By farbdogg on 5/1/2006 4:08:36 AM , Rating: 2

What did you guys expect? The Chinese government requested data, which is much nicer than the US government. The US gov just steals it.

You guys are quoting the article out of context. Yahoo isn't cooperating because they want to, they are cooperating because they have to. It's business; either you work with the government or you get shut down. What would you do if a suicide bomber knocked on your apartment door and demanded a glass of water?

On a sidenote, I am completely against China's Censoring Policy. However, this belief isn't pertinent to the article. Just my 2 cents.

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RE: Wow

By vortmax on 5/1/2006 9:04:44 AM , Rating: 2

Yahoo doesn't HAVE to operate in China. Again, it's not the government, it's the company choosing to do business there. They play, OTHER people pay.

It's all about the Benjamins...

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RE: Wow

By oTAL

(blog) on 5/1/2006 9:21:35 PM , Rating: 2

I would rather loose business and money than be a part of having a freedom fighter arrested. These ppl make me sick. Disgusting ppl like these should be liable under international law..... And as a company they will NEVER get any support from me.... disgusting....

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RE: Wow

By jskirwin on 5/2/2006 9:50:47 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
The Chinese government requested data, which is much nicer than the US government. The US gov just steals it.

Right, but the US gov't doesn't jail people for speaking out against it. Otherwise Noam Chomsky would be in jail instead of a multimillionaire on an estate.

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RE: Wow

By pjs on 5/1/2006 1:20:30 PM , Rating: 2

I will not do business with yahoo. If their bottom line is made to pay, then maybe they will stop helping to jail people.

Paul

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Where's the blame?

By OvErHeAtInG on 5/1/2006 7:20:02 PM , Rating: 2

As much as I think American companies have some amount of obligation to uphold principles abroad, the blame tends to get shifted to the wrong places.

Corporations are beholden to their owners. Governments are (ideally) beholden to their citizens. Yahoo may be acting in an immoral way, but firms don't have a mandate to behave in a moral way. Governments do. Citizens of a country should, so far as they are able, hold governments responsible for their interests. Companies doing business should conform to local laws, and cooperate with government insofar as the government is making requests within bounds of the law. If these laws are oppressive, they must be changed.

It's not the job of private entities to protect us from the government. We shouldn't need to be protected from government in the first place. I understand that that's not necessarily how China operates, and I'm not trying to blame individual Chinese for their gov't if it trammels basic rights. It's just that that's the type of issue that needs to be addressed... I think :p

RE: Where's the blame?

By Tides on 5/1/2006 7:28:31 PM , Rating: 2

I'm sorry but governments are all about power. Power is like greed, you can never have enough. Corporations should not bend just like citizens should not bend to corrupt government.

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Am hurt

By rqle on 5/1/2006 3:13:45 AM , Rating: 2

I understand and maybe accept company needs to censor data in order for the government to allow operation in its border. But this is hurts me deeply to see yahoo take it a step further =( .

I been pretty quiet about my uncle current incarceration over there, pretty much given up faith to free him, now were just working on a possible visit. So this hit hard here at home; we still have tons of Tiananmen Square t-shirt he printed here when he was involve with that sad movement.

Chinese Citizens Get Censor-Free Internet

By crystal clear on 5/1/2006 3:42:11 AM , Rating: 2

Yes stop complaining & do something about it-come up with solutions to beat the system.I got one ,pass it on to anybody you know of chinese origins.
This new privacy software, created specifically for Chinese citizens, will enable safe access to the entire Internet by circumventing the Web filters put in place by the government. In addition, the new solution protects users from detection, persecution, and retribution by shielding their personal identities and related information that the Chinese government is currently able to monitor.
Citizens of China can download the free software today at www.xifuchun.com. The success of this program relies heavily on word-of-mouth promotion, and "Tell a Friend" functionality has been added to the site. All people are encouraged to share the news about Operation Anti-Censorship with their friends and family. Bloggers, reporters, and other media outlets are also urged to spread the word by promoting this Web site today.

Hows this for a start?

By hans007 on 5/1/2006 4:45:47 AM , Rating: 2

i've had yahoo mail since like... 1997 since i signed up for geocities and they bought yahoo.

if they are willing to do this, they probably will bend over backwards when the U.S. government wants to browse our email as well in the same way AT&T does.

I'm likely going to stop using yahoo mail very soon, as I think this is just wrong. I see the whole censoring thing. But people trust that the company handling their email is going to uphold their privacy if it comes to getting them jailed.

And yahoo should not do this. They are pandering to the Chinese government more than they really should as tracking poeple down by email is just so much more than censoring. And censoring is already bad. maybe they will start screening yahoo user's emails for banned words and report people who talk about freedom a lot to the chinese government for some other business favors.

By hans007 on 5/1/2006 4:46:41 AM , Rating: 2

i also realized that jerry yang is chinese and helped found yahoo. as a chinese american i'm pretty ashamed of him as a fellow chinese american , just because it seems really wrong that he hasn't even said anythinga bout this.

Two sides, both bad...

By Trisped on 5/1/2006 1:49:20 PM , Rating: 2

something so small as talking against the government seems a bit much.

On one hand the companies want to make the billions waiting in China, on the other do they want to open themselves up to the risks of having to do what ever the Chinese government asks?

Stop using Yahoo! and boycott it as well

By Tides on 5/1/2006 7:17:19 PM , Rating: 2

There are things you can do.

1) Stop using Yahoo

2) Boycott Yahoo

3) Post on sites like this - It does serve purpose to express yourselves on sites like these, regardless of the people on here who tell you otherwise.