Tech firms slammed for 'abhorrent' China policies

American lawmakers blasted four major technology companies on Wednesday for their business practices in China, saying they are helping suppress dissent in exchange for profit.

Representatives from Microsoft Corp., Yahoo Inc., Cisco Systems Inc. and Google Inc. appeared before a House international relations subcommittee to answer questions about their business dealings in the strictly controlled Chinese marketplace.

• FROM JAN. 25, 2006: Google to censor content in China

Representative Tom Lantos, the committee's top Democrat, told companies they have made lots of profit with "very little social responsibility.

"Your abhorrent actions in China are a disgrace," said Lantos. "I simply don't understand how your corporate leadership sleeps at night."

Last month, online search engine Google said it would limit search results banned by China's government that include Taiwan's independence and 1989's Tiananmen Square massacre.

Google's Elliot Schrage admitted doing business in China has been a challenge.

"The requirements of doing business in China include self-censorship something that runs counter to Google's most basic values and commitments as a company," said Schrage.

The company entered the Chinese marketplace to make "a meaningful, though imperfect contribution to the overall expansion of access to information in China," he said.

Google called on Washington to address censorship issues through talks with foreign governments.

Yahoo's Michael Callahan echoed the call, saying "these issues are larger than any one company or any one industry.

"We appeal to the U.S. government to do all it can to help us provide beneficial services to Chinese citizens lawfully and in a way consistent with our shared values," said Callahan.

China says filtering subjects it considers pornographic or subversive serves to protect its citizens from harmful content on the internet.