[dfj225]

> Should companies be held accountable if foreign governments use their products for political suppression?

How could a company be responsible for something like a computer, which is capable of doing an infinite number of things? If America feels that strongly about the human rights violations going on in China, I feel that the only way to prevent American made technology from being used in that fashion is to prevent the sale of all technology to China. I'm not saying this is the right thing to do, but it doesn't seem possible to expect technology companies to police how their tech is used in foreign countries.

[CWuestefeld]

How could a company be responsible for something like a computer, which is capable of doing an infinite number of things?

I don't think that anyone is saying that Cisco would be responsible. But that's no reason to make things easier for the despots. If they're working with Cisco, it's either because Cisco can do it better or cheaper. Wouldn't someone with a conscience desire to make it either less effective for China, or make them pay more dearly, for such a system?

If America feels that strongly... prevent the sale of all technology to China

How does "America" feel anything? We're a nation of individuals, we do not all feel in unison, or even in agreement. That is why, when somebody feels something, they need to take whatever action they can themselves -- and that includes the Cisco management, board, and stockholders. Conversely, because the government cannot speak for the morals and values of any particular American, regulations like you suggest will always be purely political efforts, easily co-opted by special interests.

[dfj225]

> How does "America" feel anything?

I should have said the American Government.

[jseliger]

"How could a company be responsible for something like a computer, which is capable of doing an infinite number of things?"

There's a big difference between selling a computer, which could potentially do an infinite number of things, and a vast security system expressly designed for surveillance on the population, the suppression of dissent, and the curtailing of human rights.

[dfj225]

Right, but I don't think anyone claimed that Cisco sold a system designed for surveillance or suppression. The claims seem to be that Cisco sold networking or other common hardware that will probably be used for such purposes, or in a system (created by the Chinese government) designed for such purposes.