Apple's a company well known for secrecy; you'll know so after having read the article we posted about it not too long ago. Though, can this obsession with secrecy actually be harmful to a human being? Digital Beat has evidence that proves that it might well be.Sun Danyong, a 25-year-old worker in technology giant Foxconn's product communications department, recently got into a bit of trouble after one of the iPhone prototypes he was meant to take care of went missing. Once news of the disappearance got out, Danyong's apartment was 'illegally searched' by employees of the company, and according to "unsubstantiated allegations" he was detained and even physically abused. Then, shortly after 3:30 in the morning on July 16, he jumped from his apartment window.
This is really quite a disturbing event; when a person believes that ending their own life is better than the punishment they'll receive from their employer, it's taken too far. Clearly, Apple takes secrecy very seriously, and Foxconn would wish to make dead sure that their relationship is kept healthy, but this is a step that is way too far. It's not clear whether Danyong got caught up in what was just a mistake, or if he actually intended to leak some details about the device, but nobody will know for sure now.
You'll remember that Apple has dropped manufacturers for its devices before, after having leaked details early, so a company will keep it in their best interests to ensure things are well, but this is an over-reaction. Hopefully we'll get more details on this shortly, be it from Foxconn, Apple, or otherwise.
Yeah that's sounds going a bit too far. Such a big company should have legal key points that determine what could happen if a prototype is lost, why going illegal.
His whole career would have gone down the toilet; if Apple had any integrity they would have come out and said it was unacceptable behaviour.
it doesn't help though with Jobs fickle attitude where he switches vendors within seconds if he doesn't like something minor about the company.
it doesn't help though with Jobs fickle attitude where he switches vendors within seconds if he doesn't like something minor about the company.
Yeah, he keeps changing vendors, like this guy from Foxconn, who they have only been with for about 8 years, or the first the ipod. Good point, well made.
it doesn't help though with Jobs fickle attitude where he switches vendors within seconds if he doesn't like something minor about the company.
If he didn't commit suicide, Foxconn would've helped. They are a chinese company, and it occured in China.
"Foxconn would wish to make dead sure that their relationship is kept healthy"
"Dead sure" is a figure of speech widely used.
sad.
You wouldn't expect that someone would get fear upon mentioning "democracy" or "freedom". However, in the country where this took place you can get thrown in jail simply for looking at naked women on the internet.
"It appears we are all clear on the seriousness of the company's secrecy policy. Let's not have any more "suicides", capice?"
nice choice of words
Seriously enough to murder people even, no wonder he wanted to kill himself. Takes the pleasure out of the sick individual who gets his jollies off killing "enemies of the state".
Still though, if this is true, yeah... priorities are way out of line.
This office is located in Shenzhen (China), not in Taiwan.
The article's title assumes too much.
However, detaining and illegally searching your employee's apartments should be severely punished.
I don't really know the guy at all, but I somehow feel that a company willing to physically abuse him over a non-military prototype would probably have no problem tossing him to his death. Call it crazy speculation or whatever, but I simply don't buy his so-called "suicide".
The article's title assumes too much.
However, detaining and illegally searching your employee's apartments should be severely punished.
Sadly it won't be punished. It occured in China. The government does the same stuff themselves.
This was probably an early design prototype, it might not have even switched on. Maybe were you work they produce fully working prototypes.
Or maybe it was a prototype for the 3GS, or an announced iPhone? Prototype doesn't mean it was an iPhone from 2005 or something.
Also, no need to be so abrasive, I was just asking a question. Are you always this uptight?
I have known people like that, get easily stressed. Just need to remember your job is not worth it, it is not that important. If this prototype got out, the world would move on, everybody would get over it. It would be good in a way, because you would get see these new features incorporated into Microsoft products that much quicker :-)
Would you feel the same way if your job instead was in China, and that you could be MURDERED for a mistake?
So tasteless...but so funny. I lol'ed at that.
I concur
How it is written and that noone/nothing would do something like this for the reason stated.
And this related how? The story is fake. Not Neowin's fault, just whoever wrote it up in the first place.
It's related because you said no one would do something like this for that reason. People have been stabbed, shot, or whatever just for $20... What makes you think that this is unreasonable?
Secondly, you're quick to denounce the article, but with what proof? I mean, you can't be serious that some guy on some tech site with the name powerade01 has contacts to confirm this, do you? If I'm mistaken, I'll wholeheartedly apologize, but as I said, you're trying to call this article crap when you have nothing to prove it otherwise anyway.
It's not like we're talking about aliens landing or something...
I believe aliens landing before a suicide because he lost a prototype.
never heard of anyone killing themselves over a zune prototype. Say what you want about Microsoft, but there stuff is not worth dying for (except that brown one, that was great!)
There, I fixed it.
A gadet prototype or a human life. Disturbing where some people put their priorities.
Yeah, all those workers at foxconn chained to their desks are just apple cult members, they only get paid in photos of steve, and employee of the month get a locket of hair.
It take a special person to turn this around onto jobs. I certainly have never seen anyone do that to Microsoft...
I think it would be safe to say that all tech companies and this includes Apple, have a history of physically or emotional exploiting areas that don't have worker protection laws like saw the UK or United States.
So, no in summary I doubt anyone at Foxconn really cared that deeply about the prototype of the iphone. It was a paycheck. This is pretty much how it is for most Apple developers. It's all about the money.
The same can not be said for the news media and buyers of Apple products. To them it is an art form and a way of life. A bit pathetic that one actually rationalizes themselves through an external object that inexpensive and mass produced as any tech product (but that is an argument for another day).
*As long as you think exactly the way we want you to or we'll push you out of your apartment window.
Yeah, so Apple is at fault for pushing their manufacturers to keep their prototypes. Tell me, what should they have done to prevent this incident, if it really happened like this?
If this is true and if we really have to lay the blame, I'd feel that Foxconn is the bad guy for so desperately trying to hold on to its Apple orders - not like their labour record is all that clean anyway.
Looking forward to the Apple / Steve Jobs jokes that are sure to pop up in a thread like this...
Grow up, people.
Yeah, so Apple is at fault for pushing their manufacturers to keep their prototypes. Tell me, what should they have done to prevent this incident, if it really happened like this?
If this is true and if we really have to lay the blame, I'd feel that Foxconn is the bad guy for so desperately trying to hold on to its Apple orders - not like their labour record is all that clean anyway.
Looking forward to the Apple / Steve Jobs jokes that are sure to pop up in a thread like this...
Grow up, people.
Grow up? I've only seen a few jokes being made, the rest have been just explaining their opinions on this tragedy that has happened. Most believe Apple should severe ties with Foxconn, I agree... but no apple/steve jobs jokes have really been made... so maybe you should read all the comments first to see what the majority are stating. Okay? Thanks.
The company can always fire/sue him about that...instigating people for a missing phone is way too much. Leaving the death to that person to the authorities and not speculating about it, that is...
I've heard about MS killing 2 people in the past and I never thought Apple would be behind some of this type of stuff too.
This sounds like a case for the Lone Gunmen...
Stress has been linked to heart attacks. You ever run Windows 98?
LMAO
http://news.wenweipo.com/2009/07/22/IN0907220006.htm
Maybe sendinga message to the other 'monkeys'?:
Old Chinese saying: "Kill a chicken, let the monkey's watch".
Or for those who enjoy a good conspiracy theory:
Might have something do with the announced plan to launch the iPhone 3G in China this September... perhaps certain parties aren't happy with their red envelopes and might use something like this to fan the flames against Apple.
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/mobileadvisor/n...d=119020&ma
Cheers
Why did the guy have the prototype in the first place? Talk about secrecy when you allow your top-of-the-line prototype to be taken outside of the office.
1.) "recently got into a bit of trouble after one of the iPhone prototypes"
2.) "Danyong's apartment was 'illegally searched' by employees of the company"
3.) "he was detained and even physically abused."
Those three things are enough to say the guy was not just some mental case that just happened to working with iPhone prototypes. Plus would you put a mental case in charge of something as valuable as iPhone prototypes?
This really goes to show you Apple's secrecy is downright ridiculous. So what is the media learns of a new feature they are going to be adding to the iPhone, iMac, OSX, ect. It is no where near more important than someones life, or job.
I mean look at Apple, they kept Job's health issues and surgeries hush hush and are now looking at charges for not letting share holders know about Job's health condition. If I was a shareholder I would want to know about the CEO's health condition. Especially a CEO like Job's.
The fact that Foxconn had to take such measures to keep Apple happy and as a customer is very sad. The family of Sun Danyong need to sue Apple and Foxconn for all their worth. They lost a family member over Apple's madness with secrecy.
I can't wait to see Apple's comment on this. We will soon see how far they are going to twist this to make it Sun Danyong's fault and not their own. And let me add, Just another reason why I don't buy from Apple.
Based on that alone, suicide was probably his most logical course of action over disappearing and being murdered/put through their phoney court and then being murdered.
By doing this, he has put Foxconn in the spotlight. Who knows how many other people have "disappeared".
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