cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/28202261
The international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement are calling on people to cancel Game Pass subscriptions, avoid Microsoft-owned video game properties such as Minecraft and Call Of Duty, and boycott all Microsoft Gaming and Xbox-branded products in protest at the company’s reported business connections with the Israeli military.
The call follows allegations this January about the Israeli military’s usage of Microsoft’s Azure cloud technology and artificial intelligence products in the course of its bombardment and invasion of Gaza.
According to a joint investigation between the Guardian, Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 Magazine and Hebrew-language outlet Local Call, with additional reporting from Drop Site News, Microsoft have “deepened” their relationship with Israel’s defence establishment since 7th October 2023, when several Palestinian militant groups struck across the border and massacred over a thousand people. Israel responded to the attack by mounting a ground offensive and airstrikes that have destroyed much of Gaza and killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.
Genuine question, but doesn’t this just mean that Israel paid for a Microsoft Azure subscription and used it to host web services? Like, anyone can do that. What am I missing here, exactly?
They say Microsoft have “deepened” their relationship, but how did they do that, exactly?
they answer your question in detail on their own website
https://www.bdsmovement.net/microsoft
So, yeah. It’s pretty much that.
If you knew someone is doing terrible stuff with the goods/services you are offering to them, would you happily continue to have that commercial relationship?
Israel crimes are known. Microsoft has deleted accounts for muuuuuuuuuuch less.
Yeah, but that’s the thing. Other accounts don’t bring millions of revenue.
wrong, no other cloud provider offers the same military services that Microsoft does