By DPA
San Francisco : Yahoo has settled a lawsuit brought on behalf of two Chinese dissidents who were arrested and allegedly tortured after the company gave their details to Chinese authorities.
The settlement came just a week after Yahoo was lambasted in a congressional hearing for supplying information that enabled the Chinese government to identify Shi Tao and Wang Xiaoning, who had written anti-government comments on a Yahoo website.
A lawsuit was filed in federal court against Yahoo on behalf of the men and their families by the World Organisation for Human Rights in the US, which said Tuesday that the men and their families were happy with the terms of the confidential settlement.
Both are now serving 10-year prison sentences for alleged “subversion of state power” and “sharing state secrets.”
In a statement, Yahoo said it would provide financial support to the families, and back a humanitarian relief fund to support other political dissidents and their families.
“After meeting with the families, it was clear to me what we had to do to make this right for them, for Yahoo, and for the future,” Chief Executive Jerry Yang said in a statement.
“Yahoo was founded on the idea that the free exchange of information can fundamentally change how people lead their lives, conduct their business, and interact with their governments.”