Helping Big Brother Go High Tech

[YankeyMCC]

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Some outside analysts attribute Commerce's lenient approach to its enthusiasm in recent years for expanding exports to China. Matthew S. Borman, Assistant Commerce Secretary for export, counters that the agency merely follows the law: "Items controlled under this authority are those exclusively or primarily used for crime control and detection." Databases or computers that can be used in an ordinary office aren't covered, he says. But Lantos, the California congressman, says the sanctions have been undermined. "The Commerce Dept.'s decision to interpret the law narrowly is absolutely unconscionable," he argues. "By allowing American companies to sell high-tech computer and communications devices to the Chinese police, our nation is directly aiding in the suppression of political dissent in China."
American software can be traced to modernization efforts supporting at least one arm of the Chinese ideological enforcement apparatus: the State Council Leadership Team for Preventing & Handling Cults. More commonly known as the 610 Office, a reference to the date in 1999 on which it was created, this body tracks followers of unauthorized religions, such as Falun Gong. Hao Fengjun worked in the 610 Office in the northern city of Tianjin until he fled China last year. From his new home in Australia, he has added his voice to Falun Gong's protests over being oppressed. Hao says the Tianjin branch has a database containing 30,000 practitioners of the banned sect as well as additional names of other unauthorized religious groups. Some of the data were drawn from China's elaborate hukou, the household registration system that helps the government monitor and control the population.
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Until recently, most Chinese police operated with rudimentary technology, which, for example, made it difficult for local branches to share information. American companies regard their sales to law enforcement agencies as addressing this need and as part of a broader wooing of Chinese government customers. Oracle, provider of smart-card software to the Ministry of Public Security, does one-third of its business in China with the government, says Derek Williams, head of the company's Asia-Pacific Div. Selling to the government "is just part of our regular strategy," he adds. "I don't think any of these projects would be too controversial."

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On Dec. 5, 2002, company representatives took turns delivering 45-minute Golden Shield Solutions seminars. Promotional literature from the conference shows that among those making presentations were Cisco, EMC, Extreme Networks, IBM (IBM ), Nortel Networks, (NT ) and Sun Microsystems. (SUNW ) This is where Cisco distributed its pledge to support the goal of "increasing social stability." An IBM handout stated that it would "use its advanced technology to accommodate the country's conditions."
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American software can be traced to modernization efforts supporting at least one arm of the Chinese ideological enforcement apparatus: the State Council Leadership Team for Preventing & Handling Cults. More commonly known as the 610 Office, a reference to the date in 1999 on which it was created, this body tracks followers of unauthorized religions, such as Falun Gong. Hao Fengjun worked in the 610 Office in the northern city of Tianjin until he fled China last year. From his new home in Australia, he has added his voice to Falun Gong's protests over being oppressed. Hao says the Tianjin branch has a database containing 30,000 practitioners of the banned sect as well as additional names of other unauthorized religious groups. Some of the data were drawn from China's elaborate hukou, the household registration system that helps the government monitor and control the population.
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http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_38/b4001067.htm

My comment: One more example of the agenda of the federal government - protect economic interests not human interests. It's more important to the government to open a new juicy market than to protect human rights or the will of the American people (to not support oppressive foreign governments)

[BeHereNow]

1. You got that straight....

"One more example of the agenda of the federal government - protect economic interests not human interests. It's more important to the government to open a new juicy market than to protect human rights or the will of the American people (to not support oppressive foreign governments)"

When are Americans going to comprehend and understand
the implications of the agenda of
multi national, corporate globalization power brokers?
AS IF there were any "borders" much less a two party system,
under the hegemonic agenda that has hijacked our government?

American civilians, witness the Katrina victims, mean
NOTHING to the global elite.

BHN

[acmejack]

2. Gotta export that American style "Democracy"!

Any wonder why the rest of the World doesn't want any?