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