Tech Shout!

Reporters Without Borders said that a subsidiary of Yahoo search engine assisted the Chinese government apprehend an online pro-democracy supporter.

Reporters Without Borders said it has in its possession court documents that show that Yahoo Holdings (Hong Kong) handed over Jiang Lijun’s e-mail account knowing that it would be used in evidence against him.

Lijun was sentenced to four years inside in November 2003 for subversion.

According to the Chinese court, Jiang used the Internet and other methods to promote a “so-called Western-style democracy” and to advocate the overthrow of the Chinese government.

Jian was charged with making bomb threats and attempting to start a new political party, which he has denied.

Reporters Without Borders called on Yahoo to move its e-mail servers out of China so that if Beijing wanted the data it would have to apply through an American court.

Yahoo spokesperson Mary Osako said, the company is unaware of this latest case. It is “unclear” how the Chinese government obtained Jiang’s information.

Yahoo condemns punishment of free expression in any country and recognizes the need to take local conditions into account when deciding whether to do business outside the United States, she said. “We also think there’s a vital role for government-to-government discussion of the large issue involved,” she added.