A US Senator is calling for an inquiry into the Fruity toymaker Apple's antics in China.

Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin wants information from Apple over its human rights practices in China. Durbin plans to hold a hearing in March to question Apple.  Durbin's is the chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law. He said that Google sets a strong example in standing up to the Chinese government's continued failure to respect the fundamental human rights of free expression and privacy. He was interested to know what Apple was planning to do.

Apple hit the headlines last year when one of its contractor's workers appeared to have committed suicide after one of the prototypes for some Apple toy went missing.  The worker was subjected to rigours questioning by his bosses who feared Steve Job's wrath more than god. After questioning the worker felt the need to fling himself off a building.

Durbin hasn't said specifically what he hopes to accomplish with the scheduled hearing, but did push for companies to participate in the voluntary Global Network Initiative, which is a Microsoft and Google-backed organization that regulates the actions of tech companies in Internet-restricted countries.

The Congressional-Executive Commission of China plans to hold its own hearing on February 10 to evaluate the impact China's Internet restrictions have on people and commercial laws in the country. Apple has not commented on Durban's call for information.