[ad_1]
Two US lawmakers have sent letters to the CEOs of Intel Corp and Nvidia Corp to inquire about the sale of advanced computer chips allegedly used for mass surveillance of Uyghurs.
Republican U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and Democratic Representative Jim McGovern on Tuesday sent letters to Intel Corp and Nvidia Corp for information on the sale of advanced computer chips allegedly used by China to conduct mass surveillance on Uyghurs in the remote region of Xinjiang.
Rubio is the chairman of the Senate foreign relations subcommittee that oversees human rights and McGovern chairs the congressional executive committee on China.
The letters were sent to the executives of the companies, who were invited to answer questions about their exports to China.
Executives were also asked if they were aware that their technology would be used to support surveillance activities carried out by the Chinese police force and if they had taken any steps to ensure that their products were not used for any crime. human rights violations or to compromise US national security.
Nvidia declined to comment. Intel spokesman William Moss said the company does not tolerate its products being used to violate human rights and that when the company becomes aware of such an issue, it ceases or restricts its operations. activities with third parties until it is satisfied that its products are not used to commit such violations.
The United Nations has estimated that more than a million Muslims have been detained in camps in the Xinjiang region. The US State Department has accused Chinese officials of subjecting Uyghur Muslims to torture, abuse “and trying to fundamentally erase their culture and religion.”
Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump signed a law calling for sanctions against the repression of Uyghurs in China.
China denies the mistreatment and said the camps provide vocational training and are necessary to counter extremism.
[ad_2]
