The Next Net

I sent the following e-mail to my friends and colleagues who happened to be in my Yahoo! mail or Messenger address book.

This e-mail is to inform you that I will close that account with immediate effect.
Over the last years, Yahoo! has repeatedly placed short term business interests before any consideration regarding the personal safety of its users. It has consistently given out information to the Chinese authorities, leading to the arrest and trial of, among others, journalist Shi Tao and civil servant Li Zhi. Yahoo is complicit of human rights violations. We all know that fair trials for political prisoners are not possible in China.

You will find additional information at the following URLs:

http://money.cnn.com/2006/02/08/technology/yahoo_china_b20/
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2006/china0806/11.htm
http://web.amnesty.org/pages/chn-310106-action-eng

I think the best way to disapprove Yahoo’s conduct is to vote with our feet and close our accounts with them. At least, this is what I will do. There are enough IM and e-mail providers with stronger ethical values out there.