Lantos Accuses Yahoo of Not Being Truthful at Hearings

Yahoo, China

[longen]

[news.bbc.co.uk ]

A US congressional panel has criticised internet firm Yahoo for not giving full details to a probe into the jailing of a reporter by Chinese authorities.

Good to see this response to Yahoo's appeasement of the Chinese gov, which i think Google at one point also secumbed to.

[digitalghost]

Mr Lantos added: "I do not believe America's brightest and best companies should be playing integral roles in China's notorious and brutal political repression apparatus."

Mr. Lantos, I do not believe America's government should be playing integral roles in China's notorious and brutal political repression apparatus.

Yet it does. Apparently, hypocrisy knows no bounds.

[bcolflesh]

You have to wonder if everyone in the room laughed after Lantos said that.

[bill]

For your reference, see our other threads on this topic:

• Wife of Chinese Cyber Dissident Sues Yahoo [webmasterworld.com] March 2007
  
• Yahoo called to "please explain" re Jailing of Chinese Dissident. [webmasterworld.com] OCt. 2007

[vincevincevince]

Whichever way you personally feel about this issue, it does seem apparent that clear legislation is required to clarify doing business with China and similar countries.

Whilst there is no law stopping these actions, companies have little defence against requests for this type of information (as in, I'm sorry we can't provide you this information as it would be an illegal action of a US corporation); and whilst there is no law permitting these actions, companies which undertake them are at a significant risk (later courts rule against such practices; need to pay significant compensation).

[phranque]

the american government prefers to save these powers for itself.
the FISA amendment act is out of committee and working its way through the senate.
provisions include protection from such suits for corporations that engage in domestic surveillance for the government.
see article on cnet news [news.com].