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Senators Want To Punish Nokia, Siemens Over Iran

Posted by kdawson on from the no-cookies-for-you dept.

fast66 writes "After hearing about Nokia-Siemens sale of Internet-monitoring software to Iran, US Senators Schumer and Graham want to bar them from receiving federal contracts. They planned the action after hearing about a joint venture of Nokia Corp. of Finland and Siemens AG of Germany that sold a sophisticated Internet-monitoring system to Iran in 2008. According to Nextgov.com, Schumer and Graham's bill would require the Obama administration to identify foreign companies that export sensitive technology to Iran and ban them from bidding on federal contracts, or renew expiring ones, unless they first stop exports to Iran."

14 of 392 comments (clear)

  1. Because Cisco would never do such a thing by topham · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is bull shit. Cisco sold the same type of stuff to China.

    This is just more bullshit for the U.S. government to work around trade agreements they've signed in the past.

    1. Re:Because Cisco would never do such a thing by SquirrelsUnite · · Score: 5, Insightful

      So it's not about freedom or democracy just good old Realpolitik? I don't hate the idea but why not let everyone decide individually if they want to boycott these companies? I'm sure Nokia does more business with consumers in the US than the government and Siemens could be hurt pretty bad if the moral outrage was strong enough.

    2. Re:Because Cisco would never do such a thing by Max+Littlemore · · Score: 5, Insightful

      China does not threaten to bomb israel or destabilize iraq.

      So basically, this is the US trying to force foreign companies into executing the US political agenda.

      Isreal in it's current form is criminal and cruel and the US did more to destabilize Iraq than Iran ever has. But of course those opinions are counter to the US world, so flag waving morons will refuse to accept them as valid.

      Some senators want to punish a couple of non US companies for selling technology to a country that the US prevents it's own from selling technology to? I hope that Nokia and Siemens ignore them. It looks like another case of US selective policing, and the rest of world is sick of that shit.

      I don't agree with Iranian goverment internet censorship, but not for knee jerk "they are the bad guys" reasons, because I know all to well from recent history that the USA are the badder guys. The USA has negative moral authority. Even with the new administration, you guys have a lot of work to do.

      I really hope Nokia and Siemens say "shove it".

      References to US and USA refer to government/politics, not necessarily you, the people.

      --
      I don't therefore I'm not.
    3. Re:Because Cisco would never do such a thing by EbeneezerSquid · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Individuals may boycott these companies if they wish.
      The bill doesn't ban them from doing business IN the United States,
      It bans them from doing WITH the United States Government.

      In other words, as a unit, the Government would be boycotting these companies.

      I do agree with the double-standard; however, The Chinese Communist Party has been far more accepting of gradual loosening and openness than has the Iranian Mullahs. Engagement does work, if the organization you are attempting to engage with is a rational actor.

    4. Re:Because Cisco would never do such a thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      That is bullshit (forgive linking to a press release, but Nokia Siemens Networks doesn't even make equipment as described).

      It looks like Nokia Siemens sold exactly the things which the USA forced them to include in their system and nothing more. Most of the legal interception requirements have been driven by the US in the first place.

    5. Re:Because Cisco would never do such a thing by michaelhood · · Score: 5, Funny

      Google is an American country

      I just woke up from a nap.. what did I miss?

    6. Re:Because Cisco would never do such a thing by Unipuma · · Score: 5, Informative

      Actually, the EU is doing its work, and fining companies who abuse their monopoly.
      http://www.sortedsites.info/general-stuff/eu-fine-telefonica.htm
      (Which, in case you were wondering is an European company)
      http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=aasUT7jU_bd8
      (Also European)

      It doesn't matter what country your company is from, if you abuse the rules, they go after you. They might even go after all those bank bailouts:
      http://www.reuters.com/article/dealAtoms/idUS391610202420090605

  2. Yes that makes sense by Dunbal · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Internet monitoring equipment should only be allowed to be sold in "free" countries, like the US... er...

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  3. fucking hacks, both of them by Uberbah · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Where's the blockage of federal contracts to AT&T for spying on American citizens? U.S. officials have a complete lack of self-awareness on issues like spying, detention & torture:

    "I have more than two hours of video footage showing Sheikh Issa's involvement in the torture of more than 25 people," wrote Texas-based lawyer Anthony Buzbee in a letter obtained by the Observer.

    The news of more torture videos involving Issa is another huge blow to the international image of the UAE . . . . The fresh revelations about Issa's actions will add further doubt to a pending nuclear energy deal between the UAE and the US. The deal, signed in the final days of George W Bush, is seen as vital for the UAE. It will see the US share nuclear energy expertise, fuel and technology in return for a promise to abide by non-proliferation agreements. But the deal needs to be recertified by the Obama administration and there is growing outrage in America over the tapes. Congressman James McGovern, a senior Democrat, has demanded that Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, investigate the matter and find out why US officials initially appeared to play down its significance.

  4. It's only fascist when they do it by _merlin · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's the same equipment they sell to the US, UK and others, and they're in compliance with UN and EU regulations. Why is it suddenly evil and deserving of punishment when another government decides to use it?

  5. Re:First uncensored post by MrNaz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Off topic? More like insightful.

    Senators want to punish Iran for placing fetters on freedom of speech and democracy? First do something about the NSA running around like the Stasi, the FBI running around like the Gestapo and the TSA from running around like nosy nannies with clubs. Then sort out the "Free Speech Zone" debacle. Then sort out the PATRIOT Act. Then sort out the US government's working on ACTA treaties that are secret.

    Maybe then they can get all high-horsey about freedom in other parts of the world. Until then, calling Iran "unfree" is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

    --
    I hate printers.
  6. THIS IS THE ONLY RELEVANT POST SO FAR by da_matta · · Score: 5, Informative

    As stated in the linked article:
    - It's a piece of standard 3GPP (=GSM) equipment for lawful intercept, i.e. to allow law enforcement to wiretap calls (according guidelines set by local law).
    - It only handles voice calls and does not allow internet traffic monitoring, let alone deep packet inspection.
    - The equipment is compliant with EU and UN export regulations

    Also, it's much less of a privacy threat than the mechanisms currently in place in US, UK (and I'm sure EU).

  7. Re:First uncensored post by davester666 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think what's annoying is just the stupid grandstanding. They are fine with the EXACT same usage in the US, as the gov't now can arbitrarily declare anybody an enemy combatant, arrest them, hold them indefinitely without charge, and even then transport them out of the country. It's not like congress was briefed on the NSA wiretapping and did something about it. And it's not like ALL internet traffic goes through the NSA's computers (now, whether they can actually do DPI on it all in realtime...).

    But, when the people we have hired to watch our police forces don't bother doing it (I mean really, the FBI doesn't know how many NSL's they have issued OR where all of them went to HAS to be willful incompetence after this many years), and we keep re-hiring them, it's really our problem. We know there's a problem, but not enough people are willing to get together to be able to fix it.

    --
    Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
  8. Re:First uncensored post by bigtomrodney · · Score: 5, Informative

    The US has an embargo on Iran and Nokia Siemens broke it.

    Nokia Siemens is a joint venture with its headquarters in Finland. The two contributing companies are Nokia, who were founded and are headed in Finland and Siemens were founded and are headed in Germany. The United States of America set an embargo on the country and yet all others are expected to follow - this is what's wrong with the American outlook.

    I'm just glad I've been able to buy Cuban cigars legally in my country all along.

    --
    I never get used to these constant resurrections