If it doesn't qualify as entirely unrelated, I think it still qualifies as flamewar-style (“Here—fight!”). The story might be different if the commenter had something to say, as the guidelines ask when broaching these topics.
I understand it's tricky. I certainly don't want to start a flamewar, but I do think that these issues are critically important and should not be ignored.
I'd appreciate your feedback if you think it could be improved somehow.
One thing in that comment that could be stronger is the connection between IBM's behavior then and now ("connect the dots" as a prominent commenter might say). It's perhaps enough to just be reminded of past behavior of the same corporation in order to warrant asking the question in the present context, but saying so may have addressed the objection that you've received.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12962658
I understand it's tricky. I certainly don't want to start a flamewar, but I do think that these issues are critically important and should not be ignored.
I'd appreciate your feedback if you think it could be improved somehow.