Yes, 100%. If yesterday you do something bad, and today I do something bad, and you tell me to stop, there has to be something more than "I don't do that today".

It's shitty what is being done, but saying "Nope, we don't do that, but ignore the fact that we did it less than 100 years ago" isn't the greatest of moral arguments. Maybe better arguments, and better actions are in order.

I have no idea what you're trying to say here, but read back on the thread: not only is MichaelGG's logic faulty, but it's being used to justify what Cisco did. There's no more poisonous form of whataboutism. I think they should re-think that logic.

I apologize, I misunderstood the situation (my own fault). I disagree that Cisco is doing anything wrong in helping China against such groups (yes I realise the implications of that) but I understand how people may very correctly disagree and such politics aren't for HN and I shouldn't have bought it up.

We're the pot and they're the kettle, both black, but that is utterly beside the point. The question is whether a US company aided a foreign government in committing human rights violations. Hypocrisy is bad, but it doesn't excuse US vendors who enable foreigners to be imprisoned and tortured.