Yahoo restates its commitment to `freedom of speech'

In advance of what could be harsh congressional questioning this week, Yahoo planned to issue a statement yesterday outlining its belief in openness and freedom of speech -- even when it is forced to violate those beliefs by following laws in China.

Yahoo and three other technology companies are to testify tomorrow before a congressional human-rights subcommittee about their business dealings in China.

"We are deeply concerned by efforts of governments to restrict and control open access to information and communication," an advance copy of the statement said.

`Powerful force'

"We also firmly believe that the continued presence and engagement of companies like Yahoo is a powerful force in promoting openness and reform," the statement adds.

In addition, it pledged to work with industry, government and other groups to develop effective policies for doing business in restrictive countries.

Yahoo, which began censoring the results on the Chinese version of its local search engine in order to meet Chinese government demands, also said that it would strive to make those restrictions apparent to Internet users.

Yahoo's general counsel, Michael Callahan, will join executives from Google, Microsoft and Cisco before the House subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations tomorrow.

All four companies have come under fire for their dealings in China -- from agreeing to censor their search or blogging tools to providing hardware that makes government surveillance of Internet users easier.

Conviction

The Paris-based group Reporters Without Borders revealed last Wednesday that a Chinese division of Yahoo had provided information to Chinese authorities that contributed to the conviction in 2003 of Li Zhi (李志), a former civil servant who had criticized local government officials online. Li is now serving eight years in prison.

It was the second disclosure of such an incident in the last six months. Callahan said the company welcomed the opportunity to discuss these issues with Congress.

"There is no question that complying with Chinese law in the way that's come to light has led to things that have caused our company to reflect hard on these issues," he said.