Yahoo 'squeals' on Chinese dissident

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Keywords: Internet, Dissident

Rights groups have also criticized Sunnyvale, California-based Yahoo for providing information in the cases of Li Zhi and Shi Tao.

Li was sentenced to prison for subversion after posting online criticisms of official corruption.

Shi, a reporter, was sentenced to prison after sending abroad an e-mail with notes about a government memo on media restrictions.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in February that China has a right to police the Internet and "guide its development in a healthy and orderly fashion."

Internet service providers Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. also have been accused of enforcing Chinese censorship guidelines.

Google started a Chinese version of its popular search engine that omits links to content the government deems unacceptable.

Microsoft shut down, at Beijing's request, a popular Chinese blog that touches on sensitive topics such as press freedom.

US lawmakers have criticized the companies of helping China crush dissent in return for access to its rapidly expanding Internet market.

China has the world's second-largest Internet population, behind the United States, with more than 100 million people online.

Reporters Without Borders' report came as Chinese President Hu Jintao was visiting the United States. His first stop was Seattle, where he dined with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates.