Yahoo denies ratting out another Chinese customer

The international press freedom body Reporters Without Borders is reporting that Yahoo identified another one of its customers to the Chinese police, an action that saw the individual jailed for eight years.

Li Zhi, a 35 year-old ex-civil servant, had been sentenced on 10 December 2003 to eight years in prison for "inciting subversion". He was arrested the previous August after he criticised the corruption of local officials in online discussion groups and articles.

Li's lawyer, Zhang Sizhi, said at an appeal court hearing in February 2004 that his client, who used the email address libertywg@yahoo.com.cn and user-name lizhi34100, had been sentenced on the basis of data handed over by Yahoo Hong Kong in a report dated 1 August 2003.

"Now we know Yahoo works regularly and efficiently with the Chinese police," said Reporters Without Borders.

"The firm says it simply responds to requests from the authorities for data without ever knowing what it will be used for. But this argument no longer holds water.

"Yahoo certainly knew it was helping to arrest political dissidents and journalists, not just ordinary criminals."

Last year Yahoo was accused of giving information to Beijing which led to the imprisonment of reporter Shi Tao, who was sentenced to 10 years in April 2005.

• See page 2 for Yahoo's response to the allegations

In a response to vnunet.com Alex Laity, a spokesman for Yahoo Europe, said in a statement issued today: "Yahoo was unaware of the particular case that Reporters Without Borders refers to in its press release and we are currently looking into the matter.

"When Yahoo did operate the Yahoo China business, we only responded with what we were legally compelled to provide and nothing more. We were rigorous in our procedures and made sure that only required material was provided.

"We want to make it clear that the facts surrounding the Shi Tao case are distressing to Yahoo. Yahoo prides itself on helping citizens around the world communicate with each other, search and access to information and participate in e-commerce.

"We are proud of our role in expanding opportunities for Chinese citizens to enjoy the significant benefits of the internet.

"The choice in China or other countries is not whether to comply with law enforcement demands for information. Rather, the choice is whether or not to remain in a country.

"We balance the requirement to comply with laws that are not necessarily consistent with our own values against our strong belief that active involvement in China contributes to the continued modernisation of the country as well as a benefit to Chinese citizens through the advancement of communications, commerce and access to information.

"It is important to us that we correct a point that has been misreported which is that Yahoo Hong Kong was involved in the disclosure of information with regard to Mr. Shi's case. This is untrue.

"Yahoo China and Yahoo Hong Kong were always managed and operated independently of one another. As such, there was no exchange of, or access to, user information between Yahoo Hong Kong and Yahoo China.

"Yahoo China responded to the information demand, as required by PRC law. Until we read the distressing facts about Shi Tao in the news, we did not know the particular information about which Chinese authorities issued a lawful demand for information from Yahoo China."