Apple refuses to testify at Congressional Internet rights hearing
The Cupertino, California-based Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad maker is hardly alone in ignoring the committee — Facebook, Twitter, Hewlett Packard and McAfee also chose to sit it out. However, the committee’s chairman is up in arms over the snub and is threatening legislation with or without cooperation from top tech firms.
ZDNet reports that Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard J. Durbin is calling out leading tech companies for failing to testify before Congress on the issue of Internet human rights. He issued a rebuke of Facebook, Twitter, Apple, Hewlett Packard and McAfee for not directly taking part or even producing written testimony:
The bottom line is this — with a few notable exceptions, the technology industry seems unwilling to regulate itself and unwilling even to engage in a dialogue with Congress about the serious human rights challenges the industry faces.
In the face of this resistance, I have decided that it is time to take a more active role. At our hearing two years ago, I indicated that Congress could step in if the industry failed to take concrete action to protect internet freedom.
Today I am announcing that I will introduce legislation that would require Internet companies to take reasonable steps to protect human rights or face civil or criminal liability. I look forward to working with Senator Coburn and my other colleagues to enact this legislation into law.
ZDNet notes bitterly that, whereas Apple demands the government help the iPhone maker in its legal/patent disputes with HTC and Nokia, the company has shown zero willingness to help the U.S. in its to push for online rights and standards of conduct.
For its part, Google sent only written testimony.
The committee is looking into online rights abuses by China, Iran, Venezuela and other perennially repressive regimes.
Never enough…
Apple already plays a leading role in monitoring and enforcing international labor standards vis-a-vis overseas manufacturing partners. Should the company, voluntarily or otherwise, be pushing online freedoms, as well?
What’s your take?
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March 9th, 2010
“The committee is looking into online rights abuses by China, Iran, Venezuela and other perennially repressive regimes.”
The Usual Suspects? Homey don’t play dat!
March 10th, 2010
Perhaps it is because Apple realizes what a futile, business killing move this inane congressman is proposing.
Or maybe it is because Apple does not want to take party to helping the USA join the list of “oppressive nations”.
Of all the ways to actually trying to promote freedom and liberty, this is the lamest ideas my government had in a long list of lame ideas.