Yahoo Cited in China Subversion Case

Yahoo has again been cited as the source of information that put a Chinese Internet writer behind bars for 10 years in 2003 for subversion. According to the New York-based Human Rights In China, Wang Xiaoning was convicted after Yahoo's China arm provided information on his e-mail account and the Yahoo Group that he ran.

However, from the ruling it was unclear if the company had provided Wang's identity to Chinese authorities. Neither the Chinese government nor Yahoo was commenting on the matter.

Wang operated two journals, Democratic Reform Free Forum and Current Political Commentary, which supported reform and a two party system. Such positions are deemed subversive in China and punishable by law.

While Yahoo in the past has defended its actions as necessary due to China's laws, the company has repeatedly been identified as the source of information in several subversion cases in the country. The latest revelation marks the fourth time Yahoo has been associated with such jailings.

Earlier this month, court documents surfaced that showed Yahoo confirmed that Internet writer Jiang Lijun was using an Internet e-mail account with activist Li Yibing. Jiang was sentenced to four years in jail for subversion.

Previously, it had been discovered that Yahoo provided information that led to an eight-year subversion sentence against Li Zhi in that same year, and a ten-year sentence for Shi Tao, who the government accused of leaking state secrets.