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Monday, June 11, 2007

Jailed Chinese Reporter Joins Suit Against Yahoo

According to the Associated Press:

    "Shi Tao, who was sentenced in 2005 to 10 years in prison, is seeking compensation from the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Internet company, claiming Yahoo Hong Kong and Yahoo China provided information to the Chinese authorities that led to his arrest.

    Shi, a former writer for the financial publication Contemporary Business News, was jailed for providing state secrets to foreigners. His conviction stemmed from an e-mail he sent containing his notes on a government circular that spelled out restrictions on the media.

    Yahoo has acknowledged turning over data on Shi at the request of the Chinese government, saying company employees face civil and criminal sanctions if they ignore local laws. It denies Yahoo Hong Kong was involved."

Shi Tao was tossed in prison for 10 years in 2005 for sending the contents of a government document that was publicly distributed -- instructions to the media to not cover anything regarding Tiananmen Square or Falun Gong -- overseas to the Asia Democracy Foundation. Shi used his Yahoo e-mail account, and the company readily turned over his details to the Chinese government when prodded.

ALSO: Microsoft lab in China analyzing Internet users

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