A woman from China is a wee bit angry - her husband got a 10 year prison sentence thanks in part to evidence that he is a “political dissident” from Yahoo Inc.

I understand that Yahoo operates in China. I understand that China has laws, and that when operating in a country you should work according to those laws.

What people need to understand, though, is that “just following orders” didn’t work at Nuremberg, and it shouldn’t work today. An individual (and a company) are ultimately responsible for every action that they take. Following local laws is wonderful; but at the end of the day you have to say, “Yes, we gave evidence that helped put that man in prison for 10 years”, and you have to take responsibility for it.

The decision as to whether the company did wrong (by ratting this guy out) or did right (by honoring local laws) is up to each individual person.

Which is more important to you? Following the law, or doing what most everyone would say is right?

Lawyers do it every day; and they live with it. If you defend someone; there’s a good chance that, in actual fact, he’s guilty. However, within our political system everyone has a RIGHT to the best defense available. The lawyer is protecting all citizen’s freedoms and rights by doing what he or she does. Feelling bad about what you do is optional; but taking responsibility is not.