DailyTech - Foxconn Condemned by Journalist Groups

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IT Foxconn Condemned by Journalist Groups
Tuan Nguyen (Blog) - August 31, 2006 11:19 AM

13 comment(s) - last by lemonadesoda.. on Sep 1 at 6:32 PM

More heat in the case of Foxconn versus journalists

According to reports from China, Apple is currently working closely with Foxconn to resolve a legal situation that opened up from initial reports that Foxconn's manufacturing facilities were treating its employees poorly. As DailyTech previously reported, Apple generated a report from a probe it launched and determined that while most of Foxconn's facilities were well received by employees, there were areas that clearly needed to be addressed.

All the negative press from Apple's probe and the original articles proved a little too much for Foxconn. The Taiwanese electronics conglomerate decided to take matters to court and sue two Chinese journalists who originally broke the story for roughly $3.77 million USD. The lawsuit has provoked the Reporters Without Borders group to send Apple's CEO Steve Jobs a letter asking him to look into the matter.

Foxconn is a major manufacturer of Apple products, specifically the iPod family of mobile music players. According to Apple spokesperson Jill Tan, "Apple is working behind the scenes to help resolve this issue." Secretary-general of the Reporters Without Borders group Robert Menard told reporters that "we believe that all Wang and Weng did was to report the facts and we condemn Foxconn's reaction."

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Irrelavent

By Pythias on 8/31/2006 11:37:34 AM , Rating: 2

It doesnt matter. The oems who use thier products will continue to do so as long as its cheap.

RE: Irrelavent

By Puddleglum on 8/31/2006 12:26:23 PM , Rating: 2

It isn't cheap if you're losing business. Haven't you played Civ 2? When there's unrest, you have to choose a smaller margin for a larger audience. The OEM's do have a role to play whenever it comes to the public's reception of their products.

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RE: Irrelavent

By rcc on 8/31/2006 1:04:51 PM , Rating: 3

The OEMs have already assumed their role. They are providing the inexpensive products the consumers want. Right, wrong, or indifferent, Joe Public's sense of outrage and morality generally ends at his wallet.

So, people will squawk, and continue to buy.

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RE: Irrelavent

By lemonadesoda on 9/1/2006 6:28:56 PM , Rating: 2

I love Puddleglum's analogy... or the principle of it... that we should use computer games to determine the outcome of world socio-political situations. I'd better go play a few more FPS shooters to help identify the cause of the current Israel-Lebanon-Hezbollah love triangle. LOL

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LOL...I hate reporters

By redmenaceHLP on 9/1/2006 8:02:02 AM , Rating: 2

As much as I hate the state of work places in China and communism in general, I have to say if their story was bogus they deserve what will happen to them. They only problem is that 'justice' in China is a joke. Oh at least these 'journalists' are getting royally screwed.

RE: LOL...I hate reporters

By JeffDM on 9/1/2006 9:56:56 AM , Rating: 2

The journalists did overstate their case, but the audit did find some truth to their claims.

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RE: LOL...I hate reporters

By redmenaceHLP on 9/1/2006 12:30:50 PM , Rating: 2

True, but the press should not be given a get out of jail free card simply because of freedom of the press.

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cool

By JaredExtreme on 8/31/2006 11:36:35 AM , Rating: 2

Sweet this article combines two things that I deplore...Apple and workers' rights in China.

RE: cool

By RedStar on 8/31/2006 11:46:42 AM , Rating: 2

"Sweet this article combines two things that I deplore...Apple and workers' rights in China"

Hehe, foxconn also deplores workers rights. :)

Apple is prolly patting foxconn on the back away from the media glare.

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Bad press

By scott122 on 9/1/2006 10:30:20 AM , Rating: 2

I think Foxconn has gotten more bad press from their lawsuit than they got from the orginal article. If they had simply announced that they were "looking into" the reporters' accustations, the whole thing would have died with little resulting bad publicity. Instead, their lawsuit has taken on a life of its own.

RE: Bad press

By lemonadesoda on 9/1/2006 6:32:39 PM , Rating: 2

Fully agree. It does however betray the Foxconn thinking... preference for petty revenge rather than investment in good PR. (Since good PR is usually cheaper than fixing working conditions across the board they really missed a great opportunity).

Management heads at Foxconn should roll.

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an eye opener...

By kattanna on 8/31/2006 2:05:48 PM , Rating: 2

i have to say that foxconn suing was also able to freeze the assets of those 2 reporters without even a trail was a real eye opener..

Yawn

By INeedCache on 8/31/2006 2:45:18 PM , Rating: 1

Isn't everyone who's anyone condemned by journalists at some point? I'm not standing up for Foxconn here because I certainly don't know all of the facts. But, to be condemned by a journalist is no striking revelation. Some journalists do have morals and only report the truth. Others, well, they are between garbage and pond scum, as they will write whatever they think will sell. This is news?