US Tech Companies Must Be Liable for Facilitating Persecution and Torture Abroad
11 hours ago
- #Human Rights
- #Technology Accountability
- #Legal Precedent
- The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) argues U.S. tech companies should be legally accountable for aiding human rights abuses abroad.
- The case involves Cisco Systems, accused of custom-building the 'Golden Shield' system for China, used in persecuting Falun Gong members.
- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled companies can be liable under the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) for aiding abuses, even without intent, just knowledge.
- Cisco's appeal to the Supreme Court is set for argument on April 28, with potential wide implications for tech companies and human rights.
- EFF's brief emphasizes the role of U.S. companies in providing technologies that repressive governments use to violate human rights.