Cisco Accused of Aiding China in Human Rights Abuses, U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear an appeal in a lawsuit accusing Cisco Systems of aiding the Chinese government in human rights abuses against Falun Gong members. The ruling could have wide-ranging implications for human rights litigation in the United States.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 21:41
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 22:02 (21 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 22:07 (5 min after Collected)
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(Central News Agency, Washington, April 28, comprehensive foreign report) The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear a case today that could have broad implications for human rights litigation in the United States. This lengthy lawsuit was filed by Falun Gong members, accusing Cisco Systems of assisting China in religious persecution.
Reuters reported that Cisco is urging the Supreme Court to further narrow the scope of the "Alien Tort Statute." The law, enacted in 1789, allows non-U.S. citizens to seek damages in U.S. courts for violations of international law.
However, since 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court has tightened the application of the law through a series of rulings, making it more difficult to hold U.S. companies accountable for human rights violations.
The justices will hear Cisco's appeal against a 2023 ruling. That ruling, based on the "Alien Tort Statute," reinstated a lawsuit filed by Falun Gong members in 2011, who accused Cisco of knowingly developing technology that enabled the Chinese government to monitor and persecute Falun Gong members.
The lawsuit alleges that Cisco knowingly designed and helped build the "Golden Shield" internet surveillance system used by the Chinese Communist Party to target dissidents. The plaintiffs claim that China used this system to track and torture Falun Gong members. Cisco calls these allegations baseless and offensive.
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals previously reopened the case and allowed discovery proceedings, which is the pre-trial evidence gathering stage.
Cisco argues that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals exceeded its authority by interpreting the "Alien Tort Statute" as allowing for aiding and abetting liability.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's administration supported Cisco in this case, stating in a written opinion that whether the "Alien Tort Statute" applies to aiding and abetting liability should be decided by Congress, not the courts, because the law involves significant foreign policy considerations.
The Washington-based non-profit organization "Human Rights Law Foundation" filed a lawsuit against Cisco in 2011 on behalf of a group of Falun Gong members.
A judge dismissed the case in 2014, finding that the plaintiffs' alleged actions had insufficient connection to the United States, and therefore the case could not proceed.
However, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2023 that the plaintiffs had reasonably alleged that Cisco "knowingly provided critical technological support to the Chinese government to suppress Falun Gong, despite being aware that violations of international law such as torture, arbitrary detention, disappearances, and extrajudicial executions were highly likely to occur."
The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling by the end of June. (Translated by Hung Pei-ying) 2026/04/28
(Central News Agency, Washington, April 28, comprehensive foreign report) The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear a case today that could have broad implications for human rights litigation in the United States. This lengthy lawsuit was filed by Falun Gong members, accusing Cisco Systems of assisting China in religious persecution.
Reuters reported that Cisco is urging the Supreme Court to further narrow the scope of the "Alien Tort Statute." The law, enacted in 1789, allows non-U.S. citizens to seek damages in U.S. courts for violations of international law.
However, since 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court has tightened the application of the law through a series of rulings, making it more difficult to hold U.S. companies accountable for human rights violations.
The justices will hear Cisco's appeal against a 2023 ruling. That ruling, based on the "Alien Tort Statute," reinstated a lawsuit filed by Falun Gong members in 2011, who accused Cisco of knowingly developing technology that enabled the Chinese government to monitor and persecute Falun Gong members.
The lawsuit alleges that Cisco knowingly designed and helped build the "Golden Shield" internet surveillance system used by the Chinese Communist Party to target dissidents. The plaintiffs claim that China used this system to track and torture Falun Gong members. Cisco calls these allegations baseless and offensive.
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals previously reopened the case and allowed discovery proceedings, which is the pre-trial evidence gathering stage.
Cisco argues that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals exceeded its authority by interpreting the "Alien Tort Statute" as allowing for aiding and abetting liability.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's administration supported Cisco in this case, stating in a written opinion that whether the "Alien Tort Statute" applies to aiding and abetting liability should be decided by Congress, not the courts, because the law involves significant foreign policy considerations.
The Washington-based non-profit organization "Human Rights Law Foundation" filed a lawsuit against Cisco in 2011 on behalf of a group of Falun Gong members.
A judge dismissed the case in 2014, finding that the plaintiffs' alleged actions had insufficient connection to the United States, and therefore the case could not proceed.
However, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2023 that the plaintiffs had reasonably alleged that Cisco "knowingly provided critical technological support to the Chinese government to suppress Falun Gong, despite being aware that violations of international law such as torture, arbitrary detention, disappearances, and extrajudicial executions were highly likely to occur."
The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling by the end of June. (Translated by Hung Pei-ying) 2026/04/28