[matt3210]

Some might say the other countries should stay out of it. For example people might say Switzerland should stay out of those nations issues. However, if Switzerland provided technology thought a normal market or not, to the rulers, they have already interfered with the natural progression of that nation. There is no hope of the people making the situation better while Switzerland is providing the rulers with tech and they're keeping it from the people.

[fluoridation]

That's like saying that because the store sold you the belt you're using to beat your children, the owners should break into your house to physically stop you from doing so.

[GuinansEyebrows]

Individuals looking for belts and nation-states looking for networking equipment are not really the same thing… also belts don’t usually include service/maintenance contracts etc, or the ability to be revoked from the public at large (imagine the embarrassment)

[fluoridation]

It doesn't have to be the same, that's what makes it an analogy. What is the same is the relative relationships between the elements involved. Although, now that you've made me think about it, I guess it's not quite right anyway, because I doubt it's Switzerland selling technology, but Swiss companies. It'd be more correct to say that because you bought a belt from the store, the store-owner's father (as well as some of his neighbors, let's be real) should break into your house to stop you from beating your children with it.

[leereeves]

The way these countries treat their citizens is rarely a secret. I'd say a better analogy is that gun stores should not sell guns to known felons.

[fluoridation]

What would prevent gun stores from selling guns to criminals would be the law and the punishments doled out by the government. So if your argument is that Switzerland should punish Swiss companies for dealing with oppressive governments, then yeah, maybe. That's not the topic of discussion, though.

If someone buys a gun in a foreign country, and after returning to his home country he shoots a man, is he subject to the laws of the foreign country? To me that sounds like it would be a breach of the sovereignty of the man's home country. Not that I'm saying this is an apt analogy, but it's certainly closer.

[pmontra]

> if your argument is that Switzerland should punish Swiss companies for dealing with oppressive governments

Some countries require an export license for some products and companies might get it to export to friendly countries and not get it for other countries. It's similar to sanctions. Those licenses apply even to some piece of software (spying tools et al.) Companies caught selling without a license are punished.

[rbanffy]

Is the US still providing updates and spares for Ukraine’s airforce? Modern military aircraft depend a lot on software updates to stay operational.

[fluoridation]

I fail to see the relevance.

[rbanffy]

It’s a passive kill switch. Not that we can rule out an active kill switch.

[dingnuts]

lots of people think gun manufacturers should be liable if the customer shoots someone so it's not like this is an argument without precedent