Concerns over potential misuse by police

  • Thermo Fisher Scientific has halted sales of DNA technology in Tibet
  • The move follows a similar ban in Xinjiang
  • Human-rights groups claim the products can be misused by police
  • Thermo Fisher previously pledged to stop sales in Xinjiang

Thermo Fisher Scientific, a leading instrumentation maker, has announced that it will no longer sell certain DNA-based human-identification products in Tibet. This decision comes after a similar halt of sales in China’s Xinjiang region, where human-rights groups have raised concerns about potential misuse by local police forces. Thermo Fisher had previously pledged to stop sales in Xinjiang following pressure from human-rights groups. It is unclear whether these regional actions will impact the company’s business in other parts of China.

Public Companies: Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO)
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Factuality Level: 8
Justification: The article provides factual information about Thermo Fisher Scientific’s decision to stop selling certain DNA-based human-identification products in Tibet and Xinjiang. It mentions the pressure from human-rights groups and the company’s previous pledge to stop sales in Xinjiang. However, it lacks specific details about the alleged misuse of the technology by local police forces and the impact of these regional actions on the company’s business in other parts of China.

Noise Level: 7
Justification: The article provides some relevant information about Thermo Fisher Scientific’s decision to stop selling certain DNA-based human-identification products in Tibet and Xinjiang. However, it lacks in-depth analysis, scientific rigor, and evidence to support the claims made by human-rights groups. The article also does not explore the consequences of Thermo Fisher’s decision on those who bear the risks or provide actionable insights or solutions. Overall, the article contains some noise and lacks comprehensive coverage of the topic.

Financial Relevance: No
Financial Markets Impacted: No

Presence of Extreme Event: No
Nature of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating of the Extreme Event: No
Justification: The article does not pertain to financial topics and does not describe any extreme event.

Reported publicly: www.wsj.com