And in doing so is forced to admit that cooperation with Chinese authorities to crush political dissent is wrong.

Yahoo Inc., reeling from a growing backlash over human rights and its China operations, settled a lawsuit Tuesday that accused it of illegally helping the Chinese government jail and torture two journalists.

Neither side disclosed details other than to agree Yahoo would pay the attorneys fees of Shi Tao and Wang Xiaoning and the family member who sued on their behalf. Yahoo also said it would "provide financial, humanitarian and legal support to these families."

The settlement has reopened debate over Internet companies cooperating with governments that deny freedom of speech and crack down on journalists.

It marked a dramatic change of heart for Yahoo, which had steadfastly maintained it had to comply with a request from Chinese authorities to share information about the online activities of the two Chinese nationals.

Personally, I believe Yahoo's actions that led to this settlement are the equivalent of revealing the names and whereabouts of Jews to the Nazi regime in 1938. As such, I'm unhappy with the settlement. After all, a more just outcome would have involved Shi Tao and Wang Xiaoning becoming the new owners of Yahoo. However, if the outcome is a refusal of American companies to stop becoming agents of oppression, I think millions of people living in repressive regimes around the world can live with the outcome.

Posted by: Greg at 10:58 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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