I'm working on a story for tomorrow's air about Yahoo's settlement with jailed Chinese dissidents who accused Yahoo of helping the Chinese government torture them when the Internet company turned over private user information that identified them.
If you have strong thots about it, ping me.
The terms of the settlement is private, so there isn't much details. Biggest question is why Yahoo would have settled since this opens the floogates to similar suits, which will happen unless Yahoo changes its disclosure practices when Chinese officials come knocking with supoena in hand.
Morton Sklar, attorney of World Organization for Human Rights, which filed the lawsuit on behalf of the jailed dissidents and their families, said the families settled so there was hope of securing their release.
"The settlement provides more immediate help for the detainees and their families, but also provides a precedent making clear that U.S. companies have to do much more than just follow the orders of their host governments; that they have to look to U.S. laws and U.S. human rights standards when they make their decisions abroad," Sklar said.
Besides compensating the families, Yahoo will provide a humanitarian relief fund to support other political dissidents and their families, according to a Yahoo statement.
"After meeting with the families, it was clear to me what we had to do to make this right for them, for Yahoo, and for the future," Chief Executive Jerry Yang said in the statement. "Yahoo was founded on the idea that the free exchange of information can fundamentally change how people lead their lives, conduct their business, and interact with their governments. We are committed to making sure our actions match our values around the world."
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1 comment:
Great topics. Wish there was more. December?
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