Tech Giant Cisco in Hot Water Over China's Human Rights Abuses

Two U. S. lawmakers are pushing for the Supreme Court to let a lawsuit against Cisco move forward. The suit claims Cisco's tech was used to harm Falun Gong practitioners in China. Reps. Chris Smith and John Moolenaar want the Trump administration to back the plaintiffs. They say Cisco's tech helped China's surveillance and persecution efforts. Cisco argues that U. S. law doesn't allow such lawsuits. The company says it's being unfairly targeted for legal exports. The Supreme Court will decide if the case can proceed. The administration's stance is crucial, as Cisco claims the case involves U. S. foreign policy. The lawsuit has been ongoing for over a decade. In 2008, leaked documents showed Cisco saw China's "Golden Shield" project as a business opportunity. The project aimed to track and suppress Falun Gong. Cisco's own presentations called Falun Gong a "threat" and promoted tech to identify and track its members. The case hinges on whether U. S. companies can be held liable for human rights abuses abroad. Cisco says it's not responsible under the Alien Tort Statute or the Torture Victim Protection Act. But a federal appeals court disagreed, allowing the lawsuit to continue. The debate over U. S. tech sales to China is heating up. Some argue for stricter controls, while others fear it will boost China's tech industry. The Cisco case could set a precedent for future lawsuits against American companies.