Shanghai subway employee fired for uploading video of couple kissing to Internet

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BEIJING - Shanghai's subway operator has fired an employee who uploaded security camera video of a couple kissing on one of its trains to the Internet.

Chinese media say the company has also offered compensation and an apology to the pair, who could be identified from the video, and were reportedly shamed and harassed over its appearance on sites such as YouTube. The video reportedly showed the couple kissing and embracing.

In a statement, the company says it's wrapped up an internal investigation and found the videotape was uploaded by people who had worked for Shanghai Metro.

The company says formal apologies were made and it's negotiating with the couple over compensation.

The Xinhua news agency said the company's probe found three employees had been involved in the incident, two of whom quit last September for reasons it did not explain.

Xinhua identified the dismissed employee as a woman. Her name was not given.

© The Canadian Press, 2008