Yahoo Cited in Jailing of China Internet Writer

Found on eWEEK on Thursday, 27 April 2006
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Yahoo Inc. has been cited in a Chinese court decision to jail a dissident Internet writer for 10 years for subversion in 2003—the fourth such case to surface implicating the U.S. Internet giant.

Evidence cited in the verdict included "information provided by Yahoo Holdings (Hong Kong) Ltd. stating that Wang's "aaabbbccc" Yahoo Group was set up using the mainland China-based e-mail address bxoguh@yahoo.com.cn.," HRIC said.

But the verdict did not indicate whether Yahoo Holdings (Hong Kong) Ltd. or Yahoo China-which is now operated by mainland China-based Alibaba.com-provided specific information regarding Wang's identity, the watchdog said. Pauline Wong, a spokeswoman for Yahoo Hong Kong, said she did not have any details about Wang's case.

The case is the latest in a string of examples that highlight the friction between profits and principles for Internet companies doing business in China, the world's number-two Internet market.

That should be more than enough to quit doing business with China; but then, it's all about money, so throwing someone in jail doesn't matter.