Boycott Yahoo FAQs:

Q.    Why should Yahoo be boycotted?

A.    In 2004, Yahoo failed to protect the identity of one of its Yahoo mail account holders -- a Chinese journalist named Shi Tao, according to recent media reports and Congressional testimony.  Mr. Tao used his Yahoo mail account to forward a government memo that contained “forbidden” (read: "pro democracy") news coverage about the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square uprising and massacre.  (It was "forbidden" because the Chinese government controls the media; concepts like free speech, free press and democracy do not exist in China.)  The e-mail was sent to an international human rights group.  The Chinese government demanded that Yahoo turn over the e-mail sender’s identity immediately. 

(NOTE:    If you are already familiar with the facts, please click here and go to the protest message.)

Q.    What did Yahoo do?

A.    Rather than even attempt to protect the anonymity of one of its e-mail account holders, Yahoo rolled over and revealed Mr. Tao's identity to the Chinese government.  

Q.     What did the Chinese government do?

A.    They immediately arrested Mr. Tao and sentenced him to 10 years in prison, where he still languishes nearly four years later.

Q.    Is this an isolated instance?

A.    Regrettably, no.  Wang Xiaoning, another Chinese journalist, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2002 for sending e-mails about political reform from his Yahoo account.  The Chinese government demanded -- and Yahoo capitulated without a fight -- Wang Xiaoning's identity.

Q.    Why did Yahoo do it?  Why didn't Yahoo fight to protect the identities of their account holders?

A.    Greed.  Yahoo is trying to establish and expand its business interests in China, potentially worth billions of dollars.  To reject the Chinese government's demand might invite Yahoo to be booted out of the country.  In other words, Yahoo put money -- corporate greed -- above basic human rights, rather than protect the anonymity of its e-mail account holders.  If Yahoo had protected the anonymity of its account holders, they would not be in prison in China today.

Q.    Can it get any worse?

A.    To add insult to injury, Yahoo then misled U.S. government about what it knew, according to recent national media reports, such as in the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times, as well as Congressional testimony. 

NOTE: If you want to read how The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times reported the story, click here.

Q.    Is Yahoo made up of spineless, moral pygmies? 

A.    Yes, according to a leading Congressman.  Yahoo CEO and founder Jerry Yang was called to testify on November 6, 2007, before the powerful U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Burlingame).  Looking at Mr. Yang, Rep. Lantos said, "While technologically and financially you are giants, morally you are pygmies."  He also called Yahoo's actions "spineless and irresponsible."s

Q.    What can Yahoo do now?

A.    Let Yahoo flex some of its financial muscle and pressure the Chinese government into releasing these two journalists.  Let Yahoo put some technology on the bargaining table to use as leverage.  

Q.    What can we do?

A.    We can all boycott Yahoo, its home page, it products, its services, its mail accounts, its advertisers.  Since Yahoo values money more than its customers, let's see how they do without customers.  Remember, the more people who visit Yahoo's pages the more money Yahoo can charge its advertisers.  Stopping your visits to Yahoo's home page will translate into fewer hits, and ultimately fewer advertisers and fewer advertiser dollars.  By boycotting Yahoo, you will be sending a strong message to Mr. Yang that Yahoo's actions are not an acceptable way of doing business, and that there will be financial consequences until Yahoo acts proactively to get these men released.  

If these men serve their full ten-year sentences, Yahoo will have done nothing to effect their release.  

Yahoo claims, "We respect our customers above all else and never forget that they come to us by choice. We share a personal responsibility to maintain our customers' loyalty and trust."  Let them prove it.  Yahoo is one of the most successful and influential companies in the world.  Let's see some of that power go to work helping to secure those imprisoned journalists.

Q.    How long should this boycott continue?

A.    Until Shi Tao and Wang Xiaoning are released from prison.

Q.    Why is this page yellow?

A.    It is the color usually associated with those who are "spineless."

Q.    Who is behind the BoycottYahoo campaign?

A.   Who am I? I am one person, a high school senior who was appalled by Yahoo's actions and wanted to do something about it.  I am not a powerful, deep pocket company.  I don't have an army of people behind me organizing this Boycott Yahoo effort.  I am just trying to raise awareness about the terrible thing Yahoo did, and do whatever I can to influence change and help right a horrible wrong.  The important thing is to try to pressure Yahoo to do something to free these two journalists.  When that happens, the boycott will end.  You can contact me at: boycott"AT"boycottyahoo.com.  (Replace "AT" with the @ sign).

Q.    What can you do?

A.    Click here to be taken to the the next page, where you can send a letter of protest directly to Jerry Yang, Yahoo's CEO and co-founder.

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