Tech Execs Get Grilled over China Business

From CNNMoney:

"Facing blistering new attacks from human rights advocates in Congress, Yahoo, Google, Microsoft and Cisco argued Wednesday that they are doing more good than harm in China even as they cooperate with the repressive government there.
Appearing before Congress for the first time to discuss China, the companies said they face a stark choice -- obey draconian censorship laws or leave."

"U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, who chaired the House subcommittee hearing, compared the tech company's actions to IBM's collaboration with Nazi Germany during World War II. Smith, a New Jersey Republican, dismissed the claim by firms that they have to obey local laws.
"If the secret police a half century ago asked where Anne Frank was hiding, would the correct answer be to hand over the information in order to comply with local laws?" Smith asked. "We must stand with the oppressed, not the oppressors."

U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos, a California Democrat and a Holocaust survivor, was even sharper in his attacks.
"Your abhorrent activities in China are a disgrace," Lantos told the tech executives. "I simply do not understand how your corporate leadership sleeps at night." "