Duval Times

Thermo Fisher Scientific, an American company, has been accused of selling DNA kits and replacement parts to Chinese police forces in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), enabling mass surveillance and human rights abuses. After years of concern and pressure, Thermo Fisher has finally decided to stop the sale of DNA collection kits in Tibet. However, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) believes that this action is long overdue and does not absolve the company of its previous offenses.

Rubio, who has been vocal about Thermo Fisher's cooperation with the Chinese Communist Party, issued a statement expressing his dissatisfaction with the company's history of supplying DNA sequencing equipment to China's genocidal regime. He highlighted the role of such equipment in the surveillance of individuals in Xinjiang and Tibet, stating, "While the announced stoppage is a long overdue step, it does not exonerate this company from its repeated offenses."

Calling for stricter measures, Rubio emphasized the need for the U.S. Department of Commerce to prohibit all American companies from working with public security entities that target Tibetans and Uyghurs. He firmly stated, "China's illegal desire to monitor and control minorities cannot be aided by U.S.-based companies."

This is not the first time Thermo Fisher has faced scrutiny for its actions. In 2018, Rubio confronted the company for selling DNA equipment in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). As a result of his intervention, Thermo Fisher halted its sales in XUAR. In December 2022, Rubio and bipartisan members of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) again raised concerns about the company's continued operations in Tibet.

The issue of Thermo Fisher's involvement in aiding Chinese authorities in their surveillance and control of minority groups has drawn bipartisan attention. Members of the CECC have joined Rubio in urging the company to take stronger action and cease all operations that contribute to human rights abuses.

As the international community continues to grapple with the ethical implications of technology in surveillance and policing, the actions of companies like Thermo Fisher are being closely scrutinized. Governments and human rights organizations are increasingly calling for stricter regulations and accountability to prevent the misuse of DNA collection and surveillance technologies.

In response to the concerns raised by Rubio and others, Thermo Fisher has taken a step in the right direction by halting the sale of DNA collection kits in Tibet. However, it remains to be seen whether this will be enough to address the larger issue of companies' complicity in enabling human rights abuses.

As debates on the role of technology in human rights violations persist, the pressure on companies like Thermo Fisher to prioritize ethical considerations over profit will only intensify. The world will be watching closely to see how they respond to these calls for accountability and responsible business practices.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.rubio.senate.gov/rubio-on-thermo-fisher-halting-data-collection-in-tibet/