US senator calls for inquiry
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.