An Israeli flag is draped over the Microsoft offices in a building in the Gav Yam technology park in Beersheba, Israeli occupied territories, on May 30, 2024. (Photo by AP)
New York, April 23 (RHC)-- Moroccan engineer Ibtihal Aboussad stirred global headlines when she stood up to challenge Microsoft AI CEO, Mustafa Suleyman, about the company allowing Israel to use its AI in Gaza to perpetrate genocide.
While the AI factor has garnered widespread media attention, it's also important to note the many other ways in which Microsoft has been vital to the Israeli occupation forces, historically.
Jonathan Jacobson's Highfields Capital has over 31 million shares in Microsoft. Jacobson is chairman of Israel's Institute for National Security Studies and a trustee of Birthright Israel Foundation. He is also a funder of settlements and the Friends of the IDF.
Microsoft has acquired several Israeli tech companies founded by alumni of the Israeli military. Aurorato, Adallom, Hexaite and Cyber X, were all developed by Israeli military figures.
Microsoft previously invested in the Israeli company, Any Vision, which is involved in facial recognition of Palestinians for the occupation.
Microsoft also collaborates with both Elbit Systems and Israeli Aerospace Industries by providing Xbox controllers for use in Israeli tanks. Microsoft even dispatched mentors to an Israeli military hackathon that lasted 24 hours during which software experts and cadets worked together to form creative solutions for military operations.
According to the Israeli military, it can identify its enemies and control robots and drones with gestures, thanks to the Microsoft HoloLens, a mixed reality device.
Microsoft's computer infrastructure has also proved very useful to the Israeli Air Force and Army. The firm assisted the Israeli army's officer training base, Bahad I, in developing an app that gives soldiers access to the Israeli military protocols, history of victories and code of ethics.
Additionally, Microsoft assisted with the administration of the Israeli military's Civilian Human Resources Database, which keeps tabs on the Army's reserve soldiers.
Microsoft is also vital to the operations of the Israeli police. It provides the cloud services to the police and secures classified information. Israeli police also use body cameras made by Taser (Axon), a key Microsoft partner.
All of this is part of what Microsoft describes as "connected policing." In a brochure describing this arrangement, the firm asserts that its software helps Israeli police intelligence officers complete data searches within seconds.
Microsoft is an essential component in the genocide of Palestine. Indispensability of Microsoft to Zionist entity's efforts to subjugate Palestinian people
The overlaps of Microsoft with Israel are legion. In fact, it could be said that the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian land, body and mind could simply not be possible without Microsoft.
The big tech firm provides its cloud service for an Israeli app which tracks Palestinians called Al Munasiq, the coordinator in Arabic. It is used by the Israeli civil administration in the West Bank to deal with permits for work, commerce, family visits and medical status. The app is also essential in booking appointments to obtain the biometric smart cards, which are required for Palestinians to traverse Israeli checkpoints.
Moreover, the Israeli military uses the Microsoft authenticator software, which allows soldiers to log into military apps using a 'my IDF' account and face recognition, fingerprints, or, one time codes.
Microsoft also directly collaborates with the Israeli military's Mamram Unit. Among its many responsibilities, the unit created and runs the Israeli military cloud, which powers the Israeli military's "target bank" utilized in the Zionist genocide in Gaza.
A few months before the genocide began, a developer conference was held at Microsoft Israel office with the Shabak unit of the Israeli military.
This unit oversees all military systems, applications and data that have to do with logistics, personnel welfare, medical care and human resources. It is credited with being responsible for the digital transformation of the occupation forces.
[ SOURCE: PRESS TV and NEWS AGENCIES ]
