Apple Sweatshop AI illustration

iSweatshop – Not giving everyone a bite of the Apple?

Got an iPod? You’ve got to check this out:

Following the expose of Foxxconn in China, who assemble Apple’s Nanos and iPods, Apple now say they are looking into the claims of sweatshops, workers having to work 15 hour days, and forced overtime.

Very embarassing for Apple, who tries so hard to seem like a friendly ‘cool’ corporate that’s not like those big bad nasty corporates, and markets itself as being ‘socially responsible’ and individualist and well, different.

This is the problem I’ve had with Apple – even thought I now own an iPod – is the disjunct between their PR image using pictures of Gandhi, Einstein and various inspirational, historical and political people, and how they really act as a company which is not too far from say, Shell or Microsoft. Say how they handled the iPod batteries issue, or suing the Apple fansites and publications for ‘leaking’ basic information about their products.
As I said on my LJ when I first wrote about this:

“But hey maybe one of the Chinese in these factories will rise up and a new Gandhi will be born, for them to use on their advertising in future (j/king – sort of…)”

Interesting how they claim workers should be free to form unions, when that’s apparently illegal in China (and I’d guess part of the problem, although I can see the hypocrisy of Westerners telling the Chinese how to run things when look at the fuck ups that have been made in Iraq in the name of promoting ‘democracy’!). Strange form of communism that bans unions? Or did I miss something in the transition between Marxist Leninism and Maoist Leninism?
Thanks to GreatbearMD for spreading the news on this

Incidentally John, (who has also just bought a new video iPod after me showing him Charles II) was grumbling about the iconsistency and bad usability of the interface and software GUI in iTunes and the iPod…well he should know a bit about that, being a senior Information Systems lecturer and all…So surprising how they dont follow their own HCI guidelines anymore!

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