Yahoo in China human rights case

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Source: BBC

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 email and IP address to officials.

Yahoo insists it must comply with local laws in areas where it operates.



Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6966116.stm

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What would a Company do for a billion potential users...

According to BBC Yahoo says it struggles for privacy and free expression.
Once again and forever, take it: is that guy in the video a Yahoo's chief executive?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBN11-F8kh8

HE was really struggling for free expression in a Country that denies.

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1. World Organization for Human Rights - the complaint

"Human Rights USA files lawsuit against Yahoo! Inc. and its subsidiaries for the U.S. internet company's complicity in human rights abuses and acts of torture in China."

"1. Plaintiffs have been subjected to grave violations of some of the most universally
recognized standards of international law, including prohibitions against torture, cruel, inhuman,
or other degrading treatment or punishment, and arbitrary arrest and prolonged detention, for
exercising their right of freedom of speech, association, and assembly, at the hands of
Defendants through Chinese officials acting under color of law in the People’s Republic of China
(referred to herein as “the PRC” or “China”).

2. To commit these violations of specific, universal, and obligatory standards of
international law, Defendants willingly provided Chinese officials with access to private e-mail
records, copies of email messages, e-mail addresses, user ID numbers, and other identifying
information about the Plaintiffs and the nature and content of their use of electronic
communications. This information, available only to the Defendants, was voluntarily provided
to Chinese officials by Defendants Yahoo! Inc., its agents, wholly-owned subsidiaries Yahoo!
HK and Yahoo! China, and its strategic partner Alibaba.com, Corp., and served as the basis for
the acts of persecution and torture that followed as a direct result of the Defendant’s activities.
By providing this information to the PRC, Defendants knowingly and willfully aided and abetted
in the commission of torture and other major abuses violating international law that caused
Plaintiffs’ severe physical and mental suffering..."

The causes of action:

"CAUSES OF ACTION
48. Plaintiffs’ causes of action arise under and violate the following laws, agreements,
conventions, resolutions, and treaties:
(a) Alien Tort Statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1350;
(b) Torture Victim Protection Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1350;
(c) Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment G.A. res. 39/46, annex, 39 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 51) at 197, U.N.
Doc. A/39/51 (1984), entered into force June 26, 1987;
(d) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, G.A. res. 2200A (XXI), 21
U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 16) at 52, U.N. Doc. A/6316 (1966), 999 U.N.T.S. 171,
entered into force Mar. 23, 1976;
(e) Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) G.A. res. 217A (III), U.N. Doc
A/810 at 71;
(f) Charter of the United Nations (1945) adopted June 26, 1945, 59 Stat. 1031, T.S.
993, 3 Bevans 1153 (entered into force October 24, 1945);
(f) The Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2701, § 2702, and
§2511; and
(g) Statutes and common law of the State of California, including but not limited to
assault and battery, false imprisonment, negligence, intentional infliction of
emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and unfair business
practices."

See the website. The document of the lawsuit is in *.pdf
http://www.humanrightsusa.org/

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2. Yahoo wants China case dismissed - Al Jazeera

'Internet giant Yahoo is seeking to have a lawsuit brought against it on behalf two jailed Chinese dissidents thrown out of a US court saying the case falls under Chinese law.
...
Yahoo said that while it "deeply sympathises" with Wang Xiaoning, 57, Shi Tao, 39, and their families, the company could not be held liable for the Chinese government's "independent acts".
...
Yahoo said it "does not condone the suppression of their rights and liberty by their government", but it added that they were responsible for their own actions.

"They assumed the risk of harm when they chose to use Yahoo! China email and group list services to engage in activity they knew violated Chinese law," it said.'

Al Jazeera, http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/E9284183-5FD4-43DD-A654-4E1B40E68565.htm

It's an interesting point from Yahoo.
But what about boycott a Country where mails' privacy may be violated for political reasons?