Last week i focused on the U.S. Congress’ attack on Net Neutrality. Sticking with the theme of the internet, i’ve decided to highlight a case involving Yahoo!, the Chinese government, and a journalist. The following information is from Amnesty International:<\/p>\n
Shi Tao, a Chinese journalist, is serving a ten-year prison sentence in China for sending an email. Writing about a Communist Party decision, Shi Tao sent the email to the USA using his Yahoo account. The Chinese authorities accused him of \u201cillegally providing state secrets to foreign entities\u201d.<\/p>\n
According to the Court transcript, the evidence that led to Shi Tao\u2019s sentencing included account-holder information provided by US internet company Yahoo. Disturbingly, it has recently come to light that Yahoo may have also released data which could have contributed to the arrest of another dissident, Li Zhi.<\/p>\n
Shi Tao was accused of sending an email summarizing an internal Communist Party directive to a foreign source. The Communist Party directive had warned Chinese journalists of possible social unrest during the anniversary of the June 4 Movement (in memory of the Tiananmen crackdown), and directed them not to fuel it via media reports. Imprisoned for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression, a right entrenched in international law and the Chinese Constitution, Amnesty International considers Shi Tao a prisoner of conscience.<\/p>\n
Companies must respect human rights, wherever they operate. Yahoo\u2019s actions are not justifiable: the company unconditionally met the Chinese government\u2019s request for information on Shi Tao, and allegedly contributed to Li Zhi\u2019s detention.<\/p>\n
Paradoxically, Yahoo has stated that it believes in the core values of \u201cexcellence, innovation, customer fixation, team work, community and fun\u201d. Yet, the company has signed the Public Pledge on Self-Discipline for the Internet Industry, effectively agreeing to implement China\u2019s draconian system of censorship and control.<\/p>\n
Amnesty International has raised its concerns with Yahoo. The company has responded but has not addressed all the concerns raised.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Find out more about Yahoo\u2019s and Amnesty International\u2019s position on the Shi Tao case<\/a><\/p>\n
Learn more about human rights in cyberspace from Amnesty International<\/a><\/p>\n
Write to Yahoo now, expressing your concern about the company\u2019s role in assisting in the violation of Shi Tao\u2019s rights. Yahoo must use its influence to secure Shi Tao\u2019s release. You can check out this page for a sample letter<\/a> or you can write your own letter and send it to the following (send all emails to both Jerry Yang and David Filo):<\/p>\n
Jerry Yang and David Filo
\nCo-founders, Chief Yahoo & Directors
\nEmails: jerry@yahoo-inc.com; filo@yahoo-inc.com
\nAlternative emails:
\nMichael Callahan, Senior VP General Counsel: callahan@yahoo-inc.com
\nGregory Coleman, Exec VP Global Advertising Sales: gcoleman@yahoo-inc.com<\/p>\nYahoo Customer Care
\nYahoo! Inc.
\n701 First Avenue
\nSunnyvale, California 94089
\nUSA<\/p>\nIf you can, call Yahoo Customer Care to make your points over the phone: 001-408-349-1572<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Last week i focused on the U.S. Congress’ attack on Net Neutrality. Sticking with the theme of the internet, i’ve decided to highlight a case involving Yahoo!, the Chinese government, and a journalist. The following information is from Amnesty International: … Continue reading