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Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its tech in mass surveillance of Palestinians

theguardian.com

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Re: Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its tech in mass surveillance of Palestinians

#181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The word genocide has a legal definition, it’s not up for discussion or debate. What is happening in Gaza is a genocide according to genocide scholars.

It shouldn't be. But here we have UN and other twisting it to fit a situation that clearly weren't meant to be covered by it. Because if the war in Gaza can be called a genocide so can almost every single other major war! Also it is absolutely ridiculous to call a war that is started by one side, and one that only that side can end, a genocide against the same side that started it!

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Re: Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its tech in mass surveillance of Palestinians

#183
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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The op did not say Jews, he said Israelis. Apparently a poll by Haaretz found that 47% of respondents wanted to "kill every man, woman, and child in Gaza." 87% wanted complete expelsure of all Palestinians. So, the op is not quite right to say majority explicitly want to kill children, but regardless, it is frankly gross that you heard a criticism of a nation and immediately jumped to islamophobia. https://www.haaret…

Can I get a link to that article? Thanks.

Re: Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its tech in mass surveillance of Palestinians

#184

I am seeing several kneejerk "Microsoft bad" reactions here, which HNers don't do for many other companies. I encourage many of you to read what is written. They listened to their internal staff and stakeholders and public pressure, and did terminated the contract instead of ignoring it or doubling down. That is a good thing.

> did terminated the contract instead of ignoring it or doubling down

This was after they ignored it and doubled down for almost 3 years*. What was the total gain in profits and how many Palestinians died during that time? You’re going to ignore the full cost because they did the least they could do almost 3 years later?

* if the starting line is set to October 2022 attacks, if not how long were they making money off this contract?

Re: Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its tech in mass surveillance of Palestinians

#185
post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right of return for all Palestinians and their descendants, worldwide.

Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves, here, that would have the stench of colonialism about it. It's not their land to 'return to' - after all, people already live there and they have no moral right to displace them.

How do you think Israel was formed in the first place? Or is your comment intentionally ironic?

Re: Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its tech in mass surveillance of Palestinians

#187
>"According to sources familiar with the huge data transfer outside of the EU country, it occurred in early August. Intelligence sources said Unit 8200 planned to transfer the data to the Amazon Web Services cloud platform. Neither the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) nor Amazon responded to a request for comment."

So was the data moved in August to Amazon (AWS)? I am sure the $3.8bn USD the US gives annually will pay for it anyway. Because it is given as a loan, no accountability is required if it were a grant to Israel, and then the US forgives the loan, so there's not payback or interest for borrowing.

Re: Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its tech in mass surveillance of Palestinians

#188
post #147
post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The head of that Israeli unit met directly with the CEO of MS. I don't buy a second the execs at MS didn't know what was going on. Blaming the local contractors is just MS throwing people under the bus. I've worked for big corporations for nearly 20 years, I've seen this more times then I can count. Higher ups always happy to turn a blind eye to a bad situation as long as it's making the company money, and then immed…

If they weren’t intended to be thrown under the bus, they’d be called… superordinates? I guess?

Not to sound too much like a reddit comment... but God damnit take my upvote.
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