Share

Punish Google, Apple, says China media

Beijing - Chinese state media lashed out at Google, Apple and other US technology companies on Wednesday, calling on Beijing "to punish severely the pawns" of the US government for monitoring China and stealing secrets.

US companies such as Yahoo, Cisco Systems , Microsoft and Facebook threaten the cyber-security of China and its internet users, said the People's Daily on its microblog, in comments echoed on the front page of the English-language China Daily.

It is not clear what sparked this latest round of vitriol, nor what information the US firms are alleged to have stolen.

Chinese media have repeatedly attacked American tech companies for aiding the US government's cyber espionage since US National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden revealed widespread spying programmes including surveillance programme, Prism.

Under Prism the NSA seized data from companies such as Google and Apple, according to revelations made by Snowden a year ago.

Chinese state-owned firms have since begun dispensing with the services of US companies such as IBM, Oracle and Cisco in favour of domestic technology. As a result, Snowden's revelations may cost US companies billions of dollars analysts say.

"US companies including Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, etc. are all coordinating with the Prism programme to monitor China," the People's Daily said on its official microblog.

"To resist the naked internet hegemony, we will draw up international regulations, and strengthen technology safeguards, but we will also severely punish the pawns of the villain. The priority is strengthening penalties and punishments, and for anyone who steals our information, even though they are far away, we shall punish them!" it said.

Google has already had problems in China this week.

On Monday, a China censorship watchdog said Google services were being disrupted ahead of Wednesday's 25th anniversary of the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators around Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

"We cannot say this more clearly - the (US) government does not have access to Google servers - not directly, or via a back door, or a so-called drop box," said Google chief legal officer David Drummond in an emailed statement on Wednesday.

"We provide user data to governments only in accordance with the law."

Microsoft declined to provide immediate comment. Facebook, Yahoo, Apple and Cisco were not immediately available when Reuters sought comment by telephone and email.

Facebook is currently blocked by Chinese censors, but said last month it may open a sales office in China to provide more support to local advertisers who use the website to reach customers overseas.

Rocky time

In December, Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, Yahoo and other internet companies issued an open letter to US President Barack Obama and Congress to reform and introduce restrictions on surveillance activities.

Even so, US tech companies have had a rocky time in China since the NSA revelations.

Just last month, central government offices were banned from installing Windows 8, Microsoft's latest operating system, on new computers.

But the US has responded with its own measures.

In May, the US Department of Justice charged five Chinese military officers with hacking US companies to steal trade secrets.

The indictment sparked outrage in China and added urgency to Beijing's efforts to promote the development of local information technology (IT) companies.

Chinese media called the United States "a high-level hooligan" and officials accused Washington of applying "double standards" on issues of cyber spying.

After the charges were announced, China said it will investigate providers of important IT products and services to protect "national security" and "economic and social development."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.89
+0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.83
+0.3%
Rand - Euro
20.36
+0.3%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.31
+0.3%
Rand - Yen
0.12
+0.2%
Platinum
908.05
0.0%
Palladium
1,014.94
0.0%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
0.0%
All Share
74,536
0.0%
Resource 10
57,251
0.0%
Industrial 25
103,936
0.0%
Financial 15
16,502
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders