Alexandra Jimenez
3/17/2017 0 Comments Blog 5: Yahoo betrayed my husband Yu Ling and her husband Wang Xiaoning were sold to the Chinese government by Yahoo China. One Sunday morning, Wand was having issues with his Yahoo service an thought it was a technical issue. He receives a phone call asking if he is home, and moments after saying yes, the over 10 Chinese Internet police swarm into his home and take him and his computer away, and shove an “official notice” to Yu and leave.
Wang writes anonymous political e-journals, according to the article in Wang’s written court ruling it said “Wang had edited, published and contributed articles to 42 issues of two political e-journals, advocating for open elections, a multi-party system and separation of powers in the government… Wang called socialism a "totalitarian and despotic political system," and wrote that the Chinese government was "outwardly democratic but inwardly despotic." Five years later, Yu is sitting in her living room with tears in her eyes claiming that "Yahoo betrayed my husband and deprived him of freedom, [and] Yahoo must learn its lesson." Wang is serving a 10-year sentence for “inciting subversion with his pro-democracy internet writings.” Wang was convicted because of evidence provided to the Chinses government by Yahoo. After a year of preparing with the help of a non-profit group, Yu went to Washington DC to find a lawyer and fight Yahoo in court. She went to Wired News at the China Information Center, an advocacy group, to tell her story of Wang. Yu said, “"I think Yahoo should follow the world human rights standards, I want my husband released from prison…. Money cannot pay back my husband's freedom, his life." Chris Smith said during the hearing “"Women and men are going to the gulag and being tortured as a direct result of information handed over to Chinese officials." There has been three other claims against yahoo that put 3 other men in prison by Yahoo. Yahoo’s spokeman, Jim Cullian, said “We are required to follow the laws of those countries and that's what we've done, "Law enforcement agencies in China and elsewhere don't explain to us or telecom companies or anyone the reason why they're demanding specific information. We can't tell the difference between a legitimate national security issue and something else." A professor at Standford University said “The normal rule is that when you're doing business in a foreign country, you're obligated to comply with the law, we may not like the law. But Yahoo is in a difficult position.” I understand where both side are coming from. It is an extremely difficult position that Yahoo is in because of Chinas strict rules. As a business, they are required to comply with the country’s rules, just like they would in any other country. Whilst they claim they do not agree with the laws, they still have to abide by them if they want to keep their business in China. I feel as it’s a hard situation for Yahoo because they have to choose between business and money, and morals and the face that Yahoo has to put. Are they going to fight this country that doesn’t allow freedom of speech or are they going to swipe it under the rug and keep making money through the country. I sympathize with Yu and her family because it is a completely unfair situation. Her husband was taken away from her and their children because Wang was speaking the truth and his opinion about how the government is ran. Without warning, in a blink of an eye their family was torn apart by a huge corporation that is invested solemnly for the money.
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AuthorHello! I'm 19 years old. i'm a 3rd year Communication Design major with an emphasis is visual design and a minor in Business Marketing. Archives
May 2017
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