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Wang Xiaoning

From Alfawiki
Wang Xiaoning
Born
Shenyang, China
Occupation(s)Engineer, political dissident
Known forOnline dissemination of pro-democracy content; imprisonment in China

Wang Xiaoning () is an engineer and political dissident from Shenyang, China, who was detained by authorities of the People's Republic of China due to his online dissemination of pro-democracy content through his Yahoo! account. In September 2003, he received a prison sentence of ten years.

In 2007, Wang's spouse initiated legal action against Yahoo! for disclosing Wang's confidential information to government officials; this case was resolved through an out-of-court agreement. Wang was freed in August 2012.

Arrest and imprisonment

During 2000 and 2001, Wang, professionally an engineer,[1] published electronic journals within a Yahoo! group promoting democratic change and the termination of one-party governance. His arrest occurred in September 2002 after Yahoo! cooperated with Chinese authorities by supplying data that led to his identification. In September 2003, he was found guilty of "incitement to subvert state power" and handed a ten-year prison term.[2]

Lawsuit against Yahoo!

On April 18, 2007, Yu Ling, Wang’s wife, together with the World Organization for Human Rights USA, filed a lawsuit against Yahoo! in federal court located in San Francisco, California, invoking the Alien Torts Statute and Torture Victim Protection Act.[3] This legal action was among the initial attempts to hold a corporation liable for human rights abuses occurring abroad.[4] The administration under George W. Bush opposed this litigation.[4]

Wang was listed as a plaintiff, alongside journalist Shi Tao, who had been imprisoned and convicted based on information supplied by Yahoo!.[5][6][7] Morton Sklar from the World Organization for Human Rights USA criticized Yahoo! for demonstrating "corporate irresponsibility" by knowingly supplying data that resulted in arrests.[4]

Following unsuccessful motions to dismiss the case,[8] Yahoo! ultimately agreed to an undisclosed settlement outside of court.[9]

Release

On 31 August 2012, Wang Xiaoning was freed from incarceration. Following his release, authorities imposed certain political and communication limitations on him. His spouse reported that his condition was "relatively stable," although he appeared "somewhat weak and short of breath."

See also

External links

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