Supreme Court dismisses lawsuit against Cisco over allegations of aiding Chinese surveillance
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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the Alien Tort Statute cannot be used to hold technology companies liable for human rights abuses committed abroad. The decision ends a legal challenge brought by members of the Falun Gong movement against Cisco Systems.
Amalgamated from The Hill (opens in new tab), New York Times (opens in new tab), The Guardian US (opens in new tab), The Independent (opens in new tab)
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision on Tuesday that practitioners of the Falun told spiritual movement cannot sue Cisco Systems under the Alien Tort Statute. The court dismissed claims against the California-based technology company and two former executives who were accused of facilitating human rights abuses, specifically surveillance and torture, by the Chinese government.
Legal context and scope
The lawsuit centered on allegations that Cisco’s products provided a means for Chinese authorities to target members of the Falun Gong movement. According to reporting from The Guardian, the Supreme Court's decision reversed a lower court ruling from 2011 that had allowed the case to proceed. By narrowing the application of the Alien Tort Statute, the high court has limited the use of this 18th-century federal law as a mechanism for holding corporations accountable for actions taken by foreign governments or entities outside United States jurisdiction.
Implications for corporate liability
The New York Times reported that the ruling may have broader consequences for how U.S. courts handle cases involving international human rights violations. The decision specifically addresses the scope of federal law, making it more difficult for plaintiffs to seek damages against domestic corporations for activities conducted in foreign territories. While the specific case involved technology used by Chinese authorities, the legal focus remained on the limits of existing statutes regarding corporate liability.
Conclusion of litigation
Independent reports state that the Supreme Court granted Cisco's motion to dismiss the lawsuit entirely. The decision provides a final resolution to the claims brought by Falun Gong members in these courts since 2011. By clarifying the boundaries of the Alien Tort Statute, the court has established a clearer precedent for how international human rights issues involving technology firms are litigated under federal law.