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6d ago

Supreme Court Signals Likely Win for Cisco in Falun Gong Human Rights Case

The outcome could narrow human-rights lawsuits against U.S. companies for work linked to abuses by foreign governments.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch speaks at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda, Calf., on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. He was promoting his book "Over Ruled, The Human Toll of Too Much Law." (Paul Bersebach/The Orange County Register via AP)
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
A logo of CISCO sits outside the company's house on the opening day of the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 20, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
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Overview

  • The Supreme Court, which heard arguments Tuesday, signaled through tough questions that a majority may favor Cisco.
  • Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson were more open to letting the case proceed, as Cisco’s lawyer rejected the claims.
  • The case tests whether the Alien Tort Statute or the Torture Victim Protection Act let plaintiffs hold corporations liable for aiding abuses overseas.
  • The Ninth Circuit in 2023 revived a 2011 suit by Falun Gong members who say Cisco helped build China’s Golden Shield to track them for torture and detention.
  • Reporting has cited 2008 Cisco materials that pitched the Golden Shield as a sales opportunity and claimed its tools could spot most Falun Gong content, allegations the company disputes, and a ruling expected by late June could curb similar suits.