Congress Not At All Pleased With Yahoo's Explanation In Chinese Dissident Case
from the let's-start-from-the-top dept
After claiming last week that he was merely uninformed rather than intentionally misleading when he told Congress that Yahoo had no info into the investigation of a pro-democracy dissident jailed by the Chinese government, Yahoo general counsel Michael Callahan was berated by Congressional representatives who claim they don't buy his story. However, in his defense, no one in Congress seems to have explained what Callahan could have done differently, other than reveal the info he knew when he got it. As distasteful as it is that Yahoo may have had a hand in turning over info to the Chinese government, it still feels like the Congressional hearings are mere grandstanding efforts by a Congress who is unlikely to do anything about this issue. Still, the end result may be a good thing: American companies may at least start to think twice before freely aiding the Chinese government in oppressing its own people.
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Looks like another very contrived position for a techdirt trying to make sure it's business friendly.
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Re:
Callahan = 1 person at the company who could be uninformed of what was happening halfway around the world.
Company = made up of many people, who will now be aware of the overall impact this is having on the company. Those people will now think twice.
Better?
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If it's true
Trust no one.
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They probably have their own login and real time access by now.
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Yahoo China...Not really Yahoo
Also, just like U.S. Companies have to follow U.S. law and regulations regarding handing over information from a legal process, a company also has to follow other countries laws for the same in the country in which it operates. Thus, servers in China, being run by Chinese company, means they have to follow Chinese law. This is just the same as Google, Yahoo, AOL, and MSN all handing over search information to the U.S. Govt when required.
Congress is acting very wrongly in this case and the language they are using is despicable. Just like with most things, Congress needs to know when it can and can't do something as well as when it should and shouldn't do something.
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Patriot act?
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Congressional Effrontery
Investigating government oppression starts at home. China can wait. Just my two cents worth.
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( http://www.news.com/8301-13578_3-9811598-38.html )
For about the same reason
God Bless America
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Where is Congress on this issue? We know that Bush is demanding immunity against prosecution and lawsuits for them. Nice deal! The head crook demands immunity for his accomplices - and he'll get it.
We can't do much about China's leaders; but Bush should be impeached.
By the way, for obeying the law, Qwest lost very lucrative government contracts. Why did we allow this bunch of thugs to run our country (into the ground)?
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Re: Yahoo China...Not really Yahoo
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Re: Re:
"American companies" exist to gain power and make money and Americans are generally proud of how ruthlessly we pursue that goal.
Most American cmpanies have incentive schemes to promote that.
Most American companies do not have incentives to protect the human rights of anyone - not even Americans - nor are employees incentivised to prevent ignorant executives telling crap to congress.
Obviously if no penalty is imposed on Yahoo then behavior will not change.
If they get a slap on the wrist them it's theoretically possible that employee's might send the exec' more email so he's not so ignorant ... but don't count on it !.
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