Sunday, April 29, 2007

Yahoo aided China in torture, says dissident in lawsuit papers

eni Jardin:


Snip from New York Times story:

A Chinese political prisoner and his wife sued Yahoo in federal court Wednesday, accusing the company of abetting the commission of torture by helping Chinese authorities identify political dissidents who were later beaten and imprisoned.

The suit, filed under the Alien Tort Claims Act and the Torture Victims Protection Act, is believed to be the first of its kind against an Internet company for its activities in China.

Wang Xiaoning, who according to the suit is serving a 10-year prison sentence in China; his wife, Yu Ling; and other unnamed defendants seek damages and an injunction barring Yahoo from identifying dissidents to Chinese authorities.

Link, here's a Reuters item, here's the AP's item, and here's the Washington Post's item.

Wired News reporter Luke O'Brien, who covered the story as it developed in this earlier piece, has an update today. Snip:

I just spoke with former dissident Harry Wu, who helped arrange Yu's travel to the United States. He told me Yu Ling is leaving tomorrow morning to go back to China. Today she wanted to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. She walked the whole thing.
Link to post, with PDF of the legal complaint filed in San Francisco on Wednesday.

Update: ArsTechnica has a post, too: Link (Thanks, Glyn)

Previously on BoingBoing:

  • China dissident's wife: "Yahoo betrayed my husband."
  • Jailed Chinese dissident's wife to sue Yahoo for ratting out her husband
  • Yahoo rats out Chinese reporter to Beijing, writer gets 10 years in jail
  • China: gov to expand "Great 'Net Firewall," censor web even more
  • Report: Yahoo helped jail another Chinese 'net dissident, Li Zhi
  • Journalism school won't return Yahoo's controversial $1M grant
  • Report: Yahoo implicated in 3rd China dissident case
  • Yahoo could stay in China and stop sending its users to jail
  • Harsh words for US tech firms from House at China 'net hearings
  • Report: verdict confirms Yahoo helped jail China dissident #2
  • Xeni's LAT op-ed: war, blogs, news, and profit.
  • Amnesty Int'l. confronts Yahoo over jailed Chinese reporter
  • NPR "Xeni Tech": Yahoo may have aided in jailing of second China writer
  • Tech firms blasted over China policies on Capitol Hill
  • HK lawmaker: Yahoo unit had role in Shi Tao's jailing
  • Chinese activist to Jerry Yang: You are helping to maintain an evil system
  • Saturday, April 28, 2007

    Tibet Olympic protesters "intimidated" in detention


    Activists Tenzin Dorjee and Mac Sutherlin (R) hold a banner at Mount Everest's base camp in Tibet April 25, 2007. Five Americans detained and deported by China for demonstrating for a free Tibet and protesting against the 2008 Beijing Olympics at the base of Mount Everest said on Saturday they feared for their safety while in custody. REUTERS/Students for a Free Tibet/Shannon Service/Handout

    Friday, April 27, 2007

    travelling images

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    china olympic

    China human rights abuse rife amid Olympics preparation: Amnesty - ABC Online - 23 hours ago

    Official Website of the Chinese Olympic Committee

    Features news, organization, Olympic coverage, and athlete profiles.
    Royal does not rule out Olympic boycott - Reuters.uk - 1 hour ago
    China Olympic torch route ignites uproar - Los Angeles Times - 6 hours ago
    Beijing deal puts Taiwan in Games torch relay - Sydney Morning Herald - 23 hours ago
    IOC sidesteps human rights issues in China - Globe and Mail - 18 hours ago

    "China's Olympic Torch Out of Tibet": Activists call on Olympic ...

    “Allowing China to run the Olympic torch through Tibet would mean the IOC’s mark of approval for China's military occupation of our nation,” said Lhadon ...

    China detains four Americans in Tibet Olympic protest | Reuters

    BEIJING (Reuters) - China has detained four US citizens demonstrating for a free Tibet and protesting the Beijing Olympics at the base of Mount Everest, ...
    Beijing deal puts Taiwan in Games torch relay - Sydney Morning Herald - 23 hours ago

    Wednesday, April 25, 2007

    Sex In Art


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    We love the way Australian-based website Sex In Art takes a healthy peek at all things arty and well…sexual. There's some beautiful illustration work up there and some evocative photography. Heck, we're getting a little hot under the collar just thinking about it. While most of the work they feature is work friendly, some of it isn't. Still, it's worth more than a casual glance.