14 DAY TRIAL // The recent problem that Yahoo! was faced with regarding the two dissidents jailed by the Chinese authorities must have reached you, no matter what media the information came through. It was an ugly business with the Congress thrashing the Yahoo! officials, including head Jerry Yang, that were held responsible for not presenting all the information in the hearing half a year ago.
The two dissidents' families filed a lawsuit against Yahoo! HK half a year ago for disclosing personal information and providing the authorities with pro-democracy emails. Despite denying responsibility and saying that it only complied with Chinese laws in handing over the emails, the Sunnyvale, Calif. company decided to strike a deal with the two families and that the deal be hurried as much as possible for humanitarian causes, the alternative being that of 6 or 7 years of going back and forth to court and appealing decision after decision.
Yahoo co-founder and Chief Executive Jerry Yang said, "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. 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. That's why we are also working to establish a Human Rights Fund to provide humanitarian and legal aid to dissidents who have been imprisoned for expressing their views online."
Terms of the settlement were not disclosed but a person close to the company said that it provides financial, humanitarian and legal support to the two dissidents and their families. Also, a person close to Yahoo! said that the decision "was not a legal calculation, but a humanitarian decision" that followed Mr. Yang's appearance before Congress last week.