--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yahoo! had a choice. It chose to provide…" description: "\"Yahoo! had a choice. It chose to provide an e-mail service hosted on servers based inside China, making itself subject to Chinese legal jurisdiction. I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_based_yahoo-had-a-choice-it-chose-to-provide-a_2327675.jpg" --- # Yahoo! had a choice. It chose to provide an e-mail service… ![“Yahoo! had a choice. It chose to provide an e-mail service hosted on servers based inside China, making itself subject to Chinese legal jurisdiction. It didn't have to do that. It could have provided a service hosted offshore only.” quote by Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_based_yahoo-had-a-choice-it-chose-to-provide-a_2327675.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_based_yahoo-had-a-choice-it-chose-to-provide-a_2327675.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_based_yahoo-had-a-choice-it-chose-to-provide-a_2327675.jpg) > “Yahoo! had a choice. It chose to provide an e-mail service hosted on servers based inside China, making itself subject to Chinese legal jurisdiction. It didn't have to do that. It could have provided a service hosted offshore only.” [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing a domestic Chinese server subjects Yahoo! to local laws, limiting user privacy and freedom of expression. **In simple terms:** Yahoo! chose a risky host, harming privacy. Key Takeaway Consider hosting choices that protect user rights. Themes privacy government control business ethics digital rights Mood concerned critical Type ethical political When to use this quote - online communication - cloud services - international business - human rights advocacy Key Concepts jurisdiction censorship corporate responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do corporate decisions affect user freedoms? - What alternatives exist for balancing compliance and privacy? A Different Perspective Offshore hosting may raise other legal or security concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/based/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chinese/) [Chinese Legal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chinese-legal-5587307/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Chose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chose/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [E-mail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/e-mail/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Hosted Offshore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hosted-offshore-5587306/) [Inside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inside/) [Itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/itself/) [Legal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legal/) [Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making/) [Offshore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offshore/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Provide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provide/) [Provided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provided/) [Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service/) [Service Hosted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service-hosted-5587308/) [Subject](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subject/) [Yahoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yahoo/) [Yahoo Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yahoo-choice-5587305/) ## Related quotes > [Clearly Google is searching for a way to do business in China that avoids them sending someone to jail over an e-mail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/clearly-google-is-searching-for-a-way-to-do-business-in-china-that/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [When infuriated by an outrageous column, do not be suckered into responding with an abusive e-mail. Pundits so targeted thumb through these red-faced electronic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/when-infuriated-by-an-outrageous-column-do-not-be-suckered-into/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [I hate the computer. I hate their spell-check. I won't ever do e-mail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/i-hate-the-computer-i-hate-their-spell-check-i-won-t-ever-do-e-mail/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [More negatives write than call. It's a cheap shot for me to go on the air with the critical letters or E-mail I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hall/more-negatives-write-than-call-it-s-a-cheap-shot-for-me-to-go-on-the/) [John Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hall/) > [Using e-mail, I can communicate with scientists all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/using-e-mail-i-can-communicate-with-scientists-all-over-the-world/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [Besieged by lawsuits that threatened to engulf almost everyone at the White House, Clinton assistants shunned paper or e-mail records of their daily deliberations.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/besieged-by-lawsuits-that-threatened-to-engulf-almost-everyone-at-the/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [I do not mourn the death of the printed letter in a snobby, East Coast, patrician way - 'Where have our manners gone?' -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-do-not-mourn-the-death-of-the-printed-letter-in-a-snobby-east-coast/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) > [I used to say that I didn't want anything to do with e-mail. It seemed really impersonal, complicated and weird. I had no idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bd-wong/i-used-to-say-that-i-didn-t-want-anything-to-do-with-e-mail-it-seemed/) [BD Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bd-wong/) > [We haven't lost romance in the digital age, but we may be neglecting it. In doing so, antiquated art forms are taking on new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-kutcher/we-haven-t-lost-romance-in-the-digital-age-but-we-may-be-neglecting/) [Ashton Kutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-kutcher/) > [Anyone who's an executive at a record label does not understand what the Internet is, how it works, how people use it, how fans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/anyone-who-s-an-executive-at-a-record-label-does-not-understand-what/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [I find out as much from the guy in backstage TV as I do from my C.F.O. Anybody can e-mail me. I do town…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-grossman/i-find-out-as-much-from-the-guy-in-backstage-tv-as-i-do-from-my-c-f-o/) [Mindy Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-grossman/) > [I have an amazing social-media wing man who manages my Facebook fan site. All my blogs get copied there. My e-mail in-box exploded, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-have-an-amazing-social-media-wing-man-who-manages-my-facebook-fan/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [“I loved the story but also enjoyed the format of the book, which includes e-mail messages. Janice L. Jones”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-m-taylor/i-loved-the-story-but-also-enjoyed-the-format-of-the-book-which/) [Vicki M. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-m-taylor/) > [With our blogs and tweets, digital cameras, and unlimited-gigabyte e-mail archives, participation in the online culture now means creating a trail of always present,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/with-our-blogs-and-tweets-digital-cameras-and-unlimited-gigabyte-e/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [I could go on a long rant about how much I despise e-mail. I wish it was more socially acceptable to ignore people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-huffman/i-could-go-on-a-long-rant-about-how-much-i-despise-e-mail-i-wish-it/) [Steve Huffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-huffman/) ## More by Rebecca MacKinnon > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [In January 2012, Google Plus started to roll out support for nicknames and pseudonyms, but those registering with a name other than their real-life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/in-january-2012-google-plus-started-to-roll-out-support-for-nicknames/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [It becomes dangerous for somebody who doesn't want their boss to know their sexual preference to use online networks to push for laws supporting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/it-becomes-dangerous-for-somebody-who-doesn-t-want-their-boss-to-know/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [If high-tech companies are serious about doing the right thing, they can join together and lobby for more transparency and accountability in the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-high-tech-companies-are-serious-about-doing-the-right-thing-they/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [Any new legal measures, or cooperative arrangements between government and companies meant to keep people from organizing violence or criminal actions, must not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/any-new-legal-measures-or-cooperative-arrangements-between-government/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [Every news organization needs a social media strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/every-news-organization-needs-a-social-media-strategy/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [Professional camera crews are rarely there when a bomb goes off or a rocket lands. They usually show up afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/professional-camera-crews-are-rarely-there-when-a-bomb-goes-off-or-a/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [Google's entire business model and its planning for the future are banking on an open and free Internet. And it will not succeed if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/google-s-entire-business-model-and-its-planning-for-the-future-are/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [A number of countries, including Russia and China, have put forward proposals to regulate aspects of the Internet like 'crime' and 'security' that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/a-number-of-countries-including-russia-and-china-have-put-forward/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [You don't have to be a nerd or a programmer or a network engineer to make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-nerd-or-a-programmer-or-a-network-engineer-to/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [A moral argument about whether censorship is good or bad deteriorates quickly into accusations about who is more or less patriotic, moral, pious, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/a-moral-argument-about-whether-censorship-is-good-or-bad-deteriorates/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [There's a real contradiction that's difficult to explain to the West and the outside world about China and about the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/there-s-a-real-contradiction-that-s-difficult-to-explain-to-the-west/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [The relationship between citizens and government is increasingly mediated through the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/the-relationship-between-citizens-and-government-is-increasingly/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [Consistently, Baidu has censored politically sensitive search results much more thoroughly than Google.cn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/consistently-baidu-has-censored-politically-sensitive-search-results/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [Human rights in cyberspace are really no different from rights in the physical world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/human-rights-in-cyberspace-are-really-no-different-from-rights-in-the/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) [Explore all 206 Rebecca MacKinnon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) ## More Based quotes > [Like in nature, I like things which are based on a few simple principles, even though their manifestation can be very rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabiola-gianotti/like-in-nature-i-like-things-which-are-based-on-a-few-simple/) [Fabiola Gianotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabiola-gianotti/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Because there is actually something very interesting in Goodfellas, how the style of the film changes as time goes by and based on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cox/because-there-is-actually-something-very-interesting-in-goodfellas/) [Alex Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cox/) > [An art which isn't based on feeling isn't an art at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/an-art-which-isn-t-based-on-feeling-isn-t-an-art-at-all/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [I'd always wanted the show to be more reality based science fiction, something along the lines of The Day the Earth Stood Still, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-gerard/i-d-always-wanted-the-show-to-be-more-reality-based-science-fiction/) [Gil Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-gerard/) > [I'm a fact-based leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-breed/i-m-a-fact-based-leader/) [London Breed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-breed/) > [At Inter, I earned my wages based on the results on the field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-mancini/at-inter-i-earned-my-wages-based-on-the-results-on-the-field/) [Roberto Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-mancini/) > [I used to be a columnist for 'Golf Monthly' and have contributed articles for national newspapers based on the humour that is in abundance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-carrott/i-used-to-be-a-columnist-for-golf-monthly-and-have-contributed/) [Jasper Carrott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-carrott/) > [I've always made my decisions based on two factors: intellectual analysis and my gut. And when they meet, that's a go from me. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ovitz/i-ve-always-made-my-decisions-based-on-two-factors-intellectual/) [Michael Ovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ovitz/) > [Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private values into the public square. But actually it is the pro-abortion position that is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for-bringing-private-values-into/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [Christianity is based on a book. It centers in a Person. It expresses itself in a message. It authenticates itself in an experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-sidlow-baxter/christianity-is-based-on-a-book-it-centers-in-a-person-it-expresses/) [J. Sidlow Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-sidlow-baxter/) > [“Teach me about some taxes. Why didn't nobody teach me about taxes on TV? Why don't nobody teach us about none of that man?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mccartney/teach-me-about-some-taxes-why-didn-t-nobody-teach-me-about-taxes-on/) [Brandon McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mccartney/) > [Conservatism is about the basic rights of individuals. God created us. As far as the government goes, the Founding Fathers based the Constitution off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wurzelbacher/conservatism-is-about-the-basic-rights-of-individuals-god-created-us/) [Joe Wurzelbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wurzelbacher/) > [Style is based on limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/style-is-based-on-limitations/) [John Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/) > [Pacifism as a mass movement aims to avoid suffering; pacifists often say that no cause is worth suffering or dying for. The ethos of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-michnik/pacifism-as-a-mass-movement-aims-to-avoid-suffering-pacifists-often/) [Adam Michnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-michnik/) [Browse all 830 Based quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/based/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Yahoo! had a choice. It chose to provide an e-mail service hosted on servers based inside China, making itself subject to Chinese legal jurisdiction. It didn't have to do that. It could have provided a service hosted offshore only.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rebecca MacKinnon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/yahoo-had-a-choice-it-chose-to-provide-an-e-mail-service-hosted-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Based" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/yahoo-had-a-choice-it-chose-to-provide-an-e-mail-service-hosted-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_based_yahoo-had-a-choice-it-chose-to-provide-a_2327675.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_based_yahoo-had-a-choice-it-chose-to-provide-a_2327675.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_based_yahoo-had-a-choice-it-chose-to-provide-a_2327675.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Yahoo! had a choice. It chose to provide an e-mail service hosted on servers based inside China, making…” — Rebecca MacKinnon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rebecca MacKinnon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Yahoo! had a choice. It chose...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/yahoo-had-a-choice-it-chose-to-provide-an-e-mail-service-hosted-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/yahoo-had-a-choice-it-chose-to-provide-an-e-mail-service-hosted-on/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```