Accused over jailing, Yahoo says it obeys law

The office of Yahoo Hong Kong has defended itself against accusations it betrayed a journalist, saying it had to abide by the laws of each country it operates in.

In a statement yesterday, the office did not comment on news reports that it gave mainland authorities information that helped them trace journalist Shi Tao's  e-mail about media restrictions, which led to him being jailed for 10 years by a court in Hunan .

"Just like any other global company, Yahoo must ensure that its local country sites must operate within the laws, regulations and customs of the country in which they are based," the statement from Yahoo spokeswoman Mary Osako read.

Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders has claimed that court documents from Shi's trial show that information provided by Yahoo helped authorities convict the former journalist with financial publication Contemporary Business News for illegally providing state secrets to foreigners.

Press freedom spokesman for the Hong Kong Journalists' Association, Lo King-wah, said Yahoo was considered to be a media group and had an obligation to protect the content of its users.

"Of course we oppose any restrictions on the free flow of information and condemn the sentencing of Shi Tao," Mr Lo said. "The e-mail he sent was not really a state secret and we consider it is very bad of Yahoo to reveal names or content. This was very detrimental to press freedom."

Mr Lo said as an e-mail service provider, Yahoo should protect the freedom to privacy of communication. Human rights group Privacy International has called on internet users to boycott Yahoo for its "reprehensible" actions.