Fruit themed toy-maker Apple and the maker of expensive printer ink HP are off the Christmas card list of the US Senate Judiciary Committee on Human Rights and the Law.

The committee, which supports free commercial and political use of the Internet in countries with authoritarian governments, including Venezuela, Iran, and China is jolly cross that the outfits will not turn up to its meetings.

Committee chairman Senator Richard Durbin slammed Apple and HP for not turning up to answer his questions on their dealings with China and its Internet practices. Durbin said with a few notable exceptions, the technology industry seems unwilling to regulate itself and unwilling even to engage in a dialogue with Congress about the serious human rights challenges the industry faces.

He plans to introduce legislation that would require internet companies to take reasonable steps to protect human rights or face civil or criminal liability.