Dell asks PC buyers nuclear questions
News - ZDNet: "As part of the export compliance process on Dell's U.S. and U.K. Web sites, it asks the buyer some questions: Who will be the product's end user? What is the intended use? And it asks whether the products will be exported (and if so, to what countries), and whether the products will 'be used in connection with weapons of mass destruction, i.e. nuclear applications, missile technology, or chemical or biological weapons purposes.'

A Dell representative said the questions were a routine part of the sale process, and were required by any U.S. corporation to comply with export regulations. Companies are not allowed to sell products destined for countries that face export restrictions. Dell says it will not process an order that 'specifies an address of a freight forwarder, warehouse, distribution center, airport or hotel'.

Other computer makers generally make do by referring buyers to a 'terms of sale' page, with terms such as 'you agree to comply with all export laws'.

Dell's terms of sale on its U.K. site are more specific. The company reminds buyers that the product may not be sold to countries with export restrictions or to 'a user involved in weapons of mass destruction or genocide without the prior consent of the U.S. or competent E.U. government'.

On the company's U.S. site, the company further defines 'weapons of mass destruction' as 'without limitation, activities related to the design, development, production or use of nuclear weapons, materials, or facilities, missiles or the support of missile projects, and chemical or biological weapons'."

jaynote: like the bad guys won't lie about this. I can see it now:
Praise Allah Dude! You're getting a Dell
- posted by Sophont @ Saturday, March 13, 2004