Dissident Chinese fear using Internet

BEIJING, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- A lawsuit settlement by Yahoo! hasn't calmed the fears of dissidents in China who use the Internet to circulate their messages, it was reported Thursday.

The dissidents say they still face danger in using the Internet even with assurances their right to confidentiality will be protected, Times Online reported.

Yahoo! this week settled a lawsuit in which the U.S. Internet search engine giant was accused of handing over information to the Chinese government which used it to imprison two dissidents.

The terms were not disclosed, but the report said Yahoo! agreed to provide help to the dissidents' families and set up a human rights fund for other imprisoned dissidents.

The dissidents, however, say the settlement would not reduce the danger they face, the report said.

"The point is, the authorities know exactly what is being said and being written by people with dissenting views. … The only question is whether they want to pick someone up and jail them," said one who has spent a number of years in jail.

Yahoo! has said it had to obey Chinese laws to host its site in that country. Other companies face a similar situation.