Editing Cisco (section)

== Controversies ==
[[File:Cisco Networkers 2007 - Anaheim.JPG|thumb|right|Cisco Live 2007 in [[Anaheim]], [[California]]. Cisco Live is the company's annual exposition and conference.]]

=== Shareholder relations ===
A class action lawsuit filed on April 20, 2001, accused Cisco of making misleading statements that "were relied on by purchasers of Cisco stock" and of [[insider trading]].<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2006/corp_081806.html | title=Cisco Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit Resolved | publisher=Cisco Systems, Inc. | date=August 18, 2006 | access-date=January 25, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060906090159/http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2006/corp_081806.html | archive-date=September 6, 2006 | url-status=dead }}</ref> While Cisco denied all allegations in the suit, on August 18, 2006, Cisco's liability insurers, its directors and officers paid the plaintiffs US$91.75&nbsp;million to settle the suit.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://sanjose.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2006/08/14/daily75.html | title=Cisco resolves class action lawsuit | work=[[American City Business Journals|Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal]] | date=August 18, 2006 | access-date=January 25, 2007}}</ref>

=== Intellectual property disputes ===
On December 11, 2008, the [[Free Software Foundation]] [[Free Software Foundation, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc.|filed suit against Cisco]] regarding Cisco's failure to comply with the [[GPL]] and [[LGPL]] licenses and make the applicable source code publicly available.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.fsf.org/news/2008-12-cisco-suit |title=Free Software Foundation Files Suit Against Cisco For GPL Violations |publisher=Free Software Foundation |location=BOSTON, Massachusetts |date=December 11, 2008 |access-date=January 4, 2009}}</ref> On May 20, 2009, Cisco settled this lawsuit by complying with FSF licensing terms and making a monetary contribution to the FSF.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.fsf.org/news/2009-05-cisco-settlement.html |title=FSF Settles Suit Against Cisco |publisher=Free Software Foundation |date=May 20, 2009 |access-date=May 20, 2009}}</ref>

In October 2020, Cisco was ordered to pay US$1.9 billion to Centripetal Networks for infringement on four cybersecurity patents.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kwan|first=Campbell|title=Cisco ordered to pay $1.9b in cyber patent loss|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/cisco-ordered-to-pay-1-9b-in-cyber-patent-loss/|access-date=2020-10-07|website=ZDNet|language=en}}</ref>

=== China ===
Cisco has been criticized for its involvement in [[censorship in the People's Republic of China]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tankman/internet/ |title=The tank man: the struggle to control information |work=pbs.org |access-date=November 13, 2008}}</ref> According to author [[Ethan Gutmann]], Cisco and other telecommunications equipment providers supplied the [[People's Republic of China|Chinese government]] with surveillance and Internet infrastructure equipment that is used to block Internet websites and track online activities in China.<ref>Ethan Gutmann (May/June 2010) {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20161224055812/http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/article/hacker-nation-chinas-cyber-assault "Hacker Nation: China's Cyber Assault"]}}, World Affairs Journal</ref> Cisco has stated that it does not customize or develop specialized or unique filtering capabilities to enable governments to block access to information and that it sells the same equipment in China as it sells worldwide.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://blogs.cisco.com/gov/2006/02/cisco_testimony_before_house_i.html | title=Cisco Testimony Before House International Relations Subcommittee | first=John | last=Earnhardt | publisher=Cisco Systems, Inc. | date=February 15, 2006 | access-date=January 25, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061206095153/http://blogs.cisco.com/gov/2006/02/cisco_testimony_before_house_i.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = December 6, 2006}}</ref>

[[Wired News]] had uncovered a purported leaked, confidential PowerPoint presentation from Cisco that detailed the commercial opportunities of the [[Golden Shield Project]] of Internet control.<ref name="Stirland">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2008/05/leaked-cisco-do/ |title= Cisco Leak: 'Great Firewall' of China Was a Chance to Sell More Routers |first= Sarah |last=Stirland |date=May 20, 2008 |access-date=June 27, 2009 |magazine=Wired}}</ref> In May 2011, a group of [[Falun Gong]] practitioners filed a lawsuit under the [[Alien Tort Statute]] alleging that Cisco knowingly developed and customized its product to assist the Chinese government in prosecution and abuse of [[Falun Gong]] practitioners.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/candce/5:2011cv02449/240845|title=Doe I et al v. Cisco Systems, Inc. et al|work=Justia Dockets & Filings}}</ref> The lawsuit was dismissed in September 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leagle.com/decision/In%20FDCO%2020140908824.xml/DOE%20v.%20CISCO%20SYSTEMS,%20INC.|title=DOE I v. CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.|author=EDWARD J. DAVILA, District Judge}}</ref> by the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of California]], which decision was appealed to [[United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.plainsite.org/dockets/2ows95zql/court-of-appeals-for-the-ninth-circuit/doe-i-et-al-v-cisco-systems-inc-et-al/|title=Doe I, et al v. Cisco Systems, Inc., et al :: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit :: Case No. 15-16909}}</ref> in September 2015. On July 7, 2023, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed the lower court's decision and ruled the lawsuit may proceed to trial.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-07-07 |title=Lawsuit alleging California tech giant aided Chinese torture may proceed, 9th Circuit says |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-07-07/9th-circuit-revives-case-alleging-california-tech-titan-aided-torture-by-china |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 7, 2023 |title=DOE I, ET AL V. CISCO SYSTEMS, INC., ET AL, No. 15-16909 (9th Cir. 2023) |url=https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2023/07/07/15-16909.pdf |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=United States Courts for the Ninth Circuit}}</ref> Cisco filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dodge |first=William S. |date=2025-02-04 |title=Cisco's Cert Petition |url=https://tlblog.org/ciscos-cert-petition/ |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Transnational Litigation Blog |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2020, the [[Australian Strategic Policy Institute]] accused at least 82 major brands, including Cisco, of being connected to forced [[Persecution of Uyghurs in China|Uyghur labor in Xinjiang]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Xu |first1=Vicky Xiuzhong |last2=Cave |first2=Danielle |last3=Leibold |first3=James |last4=Munro |first4=Kelsey |last5=Ruser |first5=Nathan |date=1 March 2020 |title=Uyghurs for sale |url=https://www.aspi.org.au/report/uyghurs-sale |access-date=7 July 2022 |publisher=Australian Strategic Policy Institute}}</ref>

=== Tax fraud investigation ===
In October 2007, employees of Cisco's Brazilian unit were arrested on charges that they had imported equipment without paying import duties. In response, Cisco stated that they do not import directly into Brazil, and instead use middlemen.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/101607-cisco-brazil-arrests.html?page=1 | title=Cisco offices raided, executives arrested in Brazil: reports | publisher=NetworkWorld | date=October 16, 2007 | access-date=October 16, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020061925/http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/101607-cisco-brazil-arrests.html?page=1 | archive-date=October 20, 2007 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/17/business/LA-FIN-Brazil-Cisco.php | title=Brazilian tax authorities raid, close Cisco System's offices in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro | work=International Herald Tribune| date=October 17, 2007 | access-date=October 17, 2007}}</ref>

=== Antitrust lawsuit ===
On December 1, 2008, [[Multiven]] filed an [[antitrust]] lawsuit{{refn|<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=168775 | title=Multiven Sues Cisco | newspaper=Light Reading | publisher=lightreading | date=December 1, 2008 | access-date=December 2, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/35852 | title=Net maintenance provider sues Cisco over allegedly monopolistic SMARTnet | publisher=NetworkWorld. | date=December 1, 2008 | access-date=December 2, 2008 | archive-date=January 2, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102200715/http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/35852 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crn.com/networking/212201523 |title=Cisco Accused Of Monopoly In Antitrust Lawsuit |publisher=ChannelWeb |date=December 2, 2008 |access-date=December 2, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204041433/http://www.crn.com/networking/212201523 |archive-date=December 4, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release | url=http://multiven.com/news?article_id=12 | title=Multiven Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Cisco Systems, Inc. | publisher=Multiven, Inc. | date=December 1, 2008 | access-date=December 1, 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106062338/http://multiven.com/news?article_id=12 | archive-date=January 6, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://searchitchannel.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid96_gci1341067,00.html?track=sy540 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715042607/http://searchitchannel.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid96_gci1341067,00.html?track=sy540 | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 15, 2012 | title=Cisco Systems hit with antitrust lawsuit | publisher=SearchITChannel | date=December 4, 2008 | access-date=December 4, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/lawsuit-cisco-blocks-outsider-gear-maintenance/2008-12-03 | title=Lawsuit: Cisco blocks outsider gear maintenance | publisher=fiercetelecom | date=December 3, 2008 | access-date=December 3, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205163343/http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/lawsuit-cisco-blocks-outsider-gear-maintenance/2008-12-03 | archive-date=December 5, 2008 | url-status=dead }}</ref>}} against Cisco Systems, Inc. Multiven's complaint alleges that Cisco harmed Multiven and consumers by bundling and [[Tying (commerce)|tying]] [[Software bug|bug]] fixes/[[Patch (computing)|patches]] and updates for its [[operating system]] software to its maintenance services (SMARTnet). In May 2010, Cisco accused the person who filed the [[antitrust]] suit, British-Nigerian technology entrepreneur [[Peter Alfred-Adekeye]], with hacking and pressured the US government to extradite him from Canada. Cisco settled the antitrust lawsuit two months after Alfred-Adekeye's arrest by making its software updates available to all Multiven customers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://multiven.com/#/advocacy/07192010|title=After weeks of deliberation, Cisco settles Multiven v. Cisco=19 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.computerworld.com/article/2519776/government-it/cisco-settles-antitrust-suit-over-software-updates.html|title=Cisco settles antitrust suit over software updates|author=Stephen Lawson|magazine=Computerworld|date=August 2, 2010|access-date=December 27, 2015|archive-date=February 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223022538/https://www.computerworld.com/article/2519776/government-it/cisco-settles-antitrust-suit-over-software-updates.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2011/06/03/cisco_charged_with_duplicity/|title=Judge blasts Cisco's 'unmitigated gall' in ex-exec's arrest|author=Rik Myslewski|publisher=The Channel|date=June 3, 2011}}</ref>

=== Remotely monitoring users' connections ===
Cisco's Linksys E2700, E3500, E4500 devices have been reported to be remotely updated to a firmware version that forces users to register for a cloud service, allows Cisco to monitor their network use and ultimately shut down the cloud [[service account]] and thus render the affected router unusable.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cisco Pushing 'Cloud Connect' Router Firmware, Allows Web History Tracking|date=June 29, 2012 |url=http://tech.slashdot.org/story/12/06/29/1425210/cisco-pushing-cloud-connect-router-firmware-allows-web-history-tracking|publisher=Slashdot|access-date=December 26, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Cisco's cloud vision: Mandatory, monetized and killed at their discretion|newspaper=Extremetech |date=July 2, 2012 |url=http://www.extremetech.com/computing/132142-ciscos-cloud-vision-mandatory-monetized-and-killed-at-their-discretion|publisher=Extreme Tech|access-date=December 26, 2013|last1=Hruska |first1=Joel }}</ref>

=== Firewall backdoor developed by NSA ===
According to the German magazine ''[[Der Spiegel]]'' the NSA has developed JETPLOW for gaining access to ASA (series 5505, 5510, 5520, 5540 and 5550) and 500-series PIX Firewalls.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Interactive graphics: the spy tools of the NSA are sitting here|url=http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/netzpolitik/interaktive-grafik-hier-sitzen-die-spaeh-werkzeuge-der-nsa-a-941030.html|magazine=Der Spiegel|access-date=January 11, 2014}}</ref>

Cisco's Chief Security Officer addressed the allegations publicly and denied working with any government to weaken Cisco products for exploitation or to implement security backdoors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Comment on Der Spiegel articles about NSA TAO Organization|url=http://blogs.cisco.com/news/comment-on-der-spiegel-articles-about-nsa-tao-organization/|publisher=Cisco.com|access-date=December 29, 2013}}</ref>

A document included in the trove of National Security Agency files released with Glenn Greenwald's book ''No Place to Hide'' details how the agency's [[Tailored Access Operations]] (TAO) unit and other NSA employees intercept servers, routers and other network gear being shipped to organizations targeted for surveillance and install covert firmware onto them before they are delivered. These Trojan horse systems were described by an NSA manager as being "some of the most productive operations in TAO because they pre-position access points into hard target networks around the world."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/05/photos-of-an-nsa-upgrade-factory-show-cisco-router-getting-implant/|title=NSA "upgrade" factory show Cisco router getting implant|date=May 14, 2014 }}</ref>

Cisco denied the allegations in a customer document<ref>{{cite web|title=Customer Recommendations: Securing Your Network|url=http://www.cisco.com/web/about/security/intelligence/customer-rec-secure-ntwk.html|publisher=Cisco.com|access-date=January 25, 2017}}</ref> saying that no information was included about specific Cisco products, supply chain intervention or implant techniques, or new security vulnerabilities. Cisco's general counsel also said that Cisco does not work with any government, including the United States government, to weaken its products.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.cisco.com/news/internet-security-necessary-for-global-technology-economy// |title=Internet Security Necessary for Global Technology Economy |publisher=Cisco.com|access-date=May 13, 2014}}</ref> The allegations are reported to have prompted the company's CEO to express concern to the President of the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://recode.net/2014/05/18/in-letter-to-obama-cisco-ceo-complains-about-nsa-allegations/ |title= In Letter to Obama, Cisco CEO Complains About NSA Allegations|date= May 18, 2014|publisher=Re/Code|access-date=May 18, 2014}}</ref> Whistle blowers like [[Edward Snowden]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Snyder |first1=Bill |author-link1= |last2= |first2= |author-link2= |date=May 15, 2014 |orig-date= |title=Snowden: The NSA planted backdoors in Cisco products |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2608141/snowden--the-nsa-planted-backdoors-in-cisco-products.html |publisher=[[InfoWorld]] |publication-date=May 15, 2014 |agency=IDG Communications, Inc. |access-date=November 18, 2022 |url-access= |quote= }}</ref> and journalist reporter [[Julian Assange]] have echoed similar sentiments publicly.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 29, 2017 |title=A scramble at Cisco exposes uncomfortable truths about U.S. cyber defense |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cyber-defense/a-scramble-at-cisco-exposes-uncomfortable-truths-about-u-s-cyber-defense-idUSKBN17013U |editor1-last=Menn |editor1-first=Joseph |publisher=Reuters |publication-date=March 29, 2017 |agency=The Thomson Reuters |access-date=November 18, 2022 |url-access= |quote= }}</ref>

=== Spherix patent suit ===
In March 2014, Cisco Systems was sued for patent infringement. Spherix says that over $43 billion of Cisco's sales infringe on old [[Nortel]] patents owned by Spherix. Officials with Spherix are saying that a wide range of Cisco products, from switches to routers, infringe on 11 former Nortel patents that the company now owns.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cisco Sued for Infringement of Old Nortel Patents|url=http://www.eweek.com/blogs/first-read/cisco-sued-for-infringement-of-old-nortel-patents.html#sthash.4O5UyJEi.dpuf|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140625111734/http://www.eweek.com/blogs/first-read/cisco-sued-for-infringement-of-old-nortel-patents.html#sthash.4O5UyJEi.dpuf|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 25, 2014|publisher=eweek|date=March 27, 2014|author=Jeffrey Burt}}</ref>

=== India net censorship role ===
{{As of|2020|April}} Cisco Systems is alleged to be helping the Indian Jammu and Kashmir administration build a firewall that will prevent Internet users in [[Kashmir]] from accessing blacklisted websites, including social media portals, through fixed-line connections.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Javaid |first=Azaan |date=2020-03-03 |title=US firm helps J&K build firewall to keep social media off-limits even when internet returns |url=https://theprint.in/india/us-firm-helps-jk-build-firewall-to-keep-social-media-off-limits-even-when-internet-returns/374096/ |website=[[ThePrint]] |language=en-US |access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> Cisco denies the allegations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cisco Says It's Not Helping The Indian Government Enforce The Kashmiri Internet Blackout |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/cisco-says-its-not-helping-the-indian-government-enforce |website=BuzzFeed News |date=March 4, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Caste discrimination lawsuit ===
In 2020, a lawsuit was initiated against Cisco and two of its employees by the [[California Department of Fair Employment and Housing]] for alleged discrimination against an Indian engineer on account of him being from a lower [[caste]] than them.<ref>{{cite web|title=California sues Cisco for alleged discrimination against employee because of caste |first=Rishi |last=Iyengar |publisher=[[CNN Business]] |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/01/tech/cisco-lawsuit-caste-discrimination/index.html |date=2020-07-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=California sues Cisco over discrimination against dalit employee |publisher=[[The Week (Indian magazine)]] |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/biz-tech/2020/07/01/california-sues-cisco-over-discrimination-against-dalit-employee.html |date=2020-07-01}}</ref>

=== Israeli-Palestinian conflict ===
The Israeli military uses Cisco data centers to support its AI targeting operations and other defense and intelligence activities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-18 |title=As Israel uses US-made AI models in war, concerns arise about tech’s role in who lives and who dies |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-ai-technology-737bc17af7b03e98c29cec4e15d0f108 |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> At least 32 Cisco employees lost 288 family members in Gaza since October 2023. Employees who have spoken out against Cisco's ties to Israel have been fired, attempts to organize employees in support of divestment have been censored, and the company banned discussion of the conflict in company meetings in April 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Archit |title=Cisco, a Major Contributor to Israel's Military Technology, Fired a Pro-Palestine Employee |url=https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/cisco-israel-tech-internal-speech-palestine-gaza |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=www.dropsitenews.com |language=en}}</ref>