Yahoo!'s data contributes to arrests: Free Shi Tao from prison in China

Yahoo! has admitted to providing the Chinese authorities with information that led to the eventual arrest and imprisonment of journalist Shi Tao; considered by Amnesty International to be prisoner of conscience.

Shi Tao is serving a ten-year prison sentence in China for sending an email which included information on the government response to the Tiananmen Square massacre. Shi Tao sent the email to the US using his Yahoo! account. The Chinese authorities accused him of "illegally providing state secrets to foreign entities".

Send an appeal to Yahoo! | Send an appeal to the Chinese authorities

Update: 15 November 2007

It was announced this week that Internet company Yahoo! has settled a lawsuit involving Shi Tao and another Chinese journalist, Wang Xiaoning, who was arrested in 2002 after Yahoo! gave authorities information linking him to political writings posted online.

Amnesty International has been campaigning on behalf of Shi Tao, pressing both the Chinese authorities and Yahoo! to take action, and is pleased that Yahoo! is now taking this case more seriously. However, whilst apologies and compensation provide some comfort to the families, Shi Tao and others remain in prison.

We continue to urge Yahoo! to make public calls for the release of Shi Tao and others imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of their freedom of expression online. We also continue to call on Yahoo! to make a thorough commitment to ensure that it upholds and respects human rights in the future.

According to the Court transcript, the evidence that led to Shi Tao’s sentencing included account-holder information provided by US internet company Yahoo!.

Shi Tao was accused of sending an email summarising an internal Communist Party directive to a foreign source. The Communist Party directive had warned Chinese journalists of possible social unrest during the anniversary of the June 4 Movement (in memory of the Tiananmen crackdown), and directed them not to fuel it via media reports.

Imprisoned for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression, a right entrenched in international law and the Chinese Constitution, Amnesty International considers Shi Tao a prisoner of conscience.

Companies must respect human rights, wherever they operate. Yahoo!’s actions are not justifiable: the company unconditionally met the Chinese government’s request for information on Shi Tao, and allegedly contributed to Li Zhi’s detention.

Paradoxically, Yahoo! has stated that it believes in the core values of "excellence, innovation, customer fixation, team work, community and fun". Yet, the company has signed the 'Public Pledge on Self-Discipline for the Internet Industry', effectively agreeing to implement China’s draconian system of censorship and control.

Amnesty International has raised its concerns with Yahoo!. The company has responded but has not addressed all the concerns raised.

• Find out more about Yahoo!’s and Amnesty International’s position on the Shi Tao case.
• Find out more about Human Rights For China campaign
• Learn more about human rights in cyberspace

Yahoo! has admitted to providing the Chinese authorities with information that led to the eventual arrest and imprisonment of journalist Shi Tao; considered by Amnesty International to be prisoner of conscience.

Shi Tao is serving a ten-year prison sentence in China for sending an email which included information on the government response to the Tiananmen Square massacre. Shi Tao sent the email to the US using his Yahoo! account. The Chinese authorities accused him of "illegally providing state secrets to foreign entities".

Send an appeal to Yahoo! | Send an appeal to the Chinese authorities

Update: 15 November 2007

It was announced this week that Internet company Yahoo! has settled a lawsuit involving Shi Tao and another Chinese journalist, Wang Xiaoning, who was arrested in 2002 after Yahoo! gave authorities information linking him to political writings posted online.

Amnesty International has been campaigning on behalf of Shi Tao, pressing both the Chinese authorities and Yahoo! to take action, and is pleased that Yahoo! is now taking this case more seriously. However, whilst apologies and compensation provide some comfort to the families, Shi Tao and others remain in prison.

We continue to urge Yahoo! to make public calls for the release of Shi Tao and others imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of their freedom of expression online. We also continue to call on Yahoo! to make a thorough commitment to ensure that it upholds and respects human rights in the future.

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