[Am-info] Microsoft in human rights row

[Erick Andrews]

No mention of what type of software.  Anyone know?

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,6903,1136045,00.html

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Gates's firm supplied technology used to trap Chinese dissidents, says Amnesty 

Nick Mathiason Sunday February 1, 2004 The Observer

Technology sold by Microsoft to the Chinese government has
been used by Beijing to censor the internet, and resulted in
the jailing of its political opponents.  	

An Amnesty International report has cited Microsoft among a
clutch of leading computer firms heavily criticised for
helping to fuel 'a dramatic rise in the number of people
detained or sentenced for internet-related offences'.

The human rights group has slated Bill Gates's company for
an 'inadequate response' to escalating abuses in China.  'We
don't believe this is appropriate or responsible,' said Mark
Allison, an Amnesty International researcher who wrote the
report.  '[Microsoft] should be more concerned about human
rights abuses and should be using its influence to lift
restrictions on freedom of expression and get people out of
prison.  It is worrying that they don't seem to have raised
these issues.'

Amnesty believes Microsoft is in violation of a new United
Nations Human Rights code for multinationals which says
businesses should 'seek to ensure that the goods and
services they provide will not be used to abuse human
rights'.

[...]

It was confirmed last week that Gates is to receive an
honorary knighthood.  The firm is embroiled in tough
negotiations over supply of software to the NHS.
[NHS = National Health Service]
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-- 
Erick Andrews