“How can I protest against Google / Microsoft / Meta / Amazon? I use their stuff all the time.”

People in tech - 2024

The quote is something that I hear a lot from people working the technology industry. The feeling that you can not protest against against these companies direct involvement in the genocide in occupied Palestine without being a hypocrite. Let’s look into where these feelings come from, and why this idea is just plain wrong.

This post does not adress the matter of privilege when it comes to protesting, I am fully aware that someones material conditions can prevent them from protesting. Surviving neo-liberal capitalism is not easy ❤️ and for some its not an option to jeopardize their livelihood.

The age of cloud computing monopolies

In the early 21st century we witnessed the rise of cloud computing. This huge shift in how software could be produced set about a chain of events which lead us to where we are today, where you will have a hard time finding work in the tech industry and without using one of the cloud monopolies such as AWS, Google or Microsoft. Naturally there are places which don’t use technology from the aforementioned companies, however these jobs are far and few between. This is not an excuse, but it is the reality we live in as people in technology. We have opted for convenience in exchange for being at the mercy of a handful of companies with monopolies on cloud computing.

Me and my iPhone

A picture of an iPhone on a table

I currently have an iPhone, which my work provides me with, however being the owner of this device does mean I can not protest against Apple’s involvement in encouraging illegal mining in DR Congo. It does not mean I can not protest against Apple donating money to a military which is conducting a genocide. It is absolutely ridiculous to even have the idea that a customer / user is somehow complicit in the actions.

One could argue that we should boycott and things like that. It is a legitimate position, however in today’s Norwegian society it is very hard to function without some kind of smartphone. Without putting in a substantial effort, you have little options but to have one. Wether it’s an Apple, Samsung or Google phone does not matter all that much, as they are all complicit in things like illegal mining.

Cults of worship

The technology industry has had a knack for building communities where people who use the some technology for their wage labour come together. These communities are something technology companies love, as it means they have people doing the advertising for them and it’s free. They are also aware that tips and information put forward by peers is way more valuable than something coming from an advert. Therefor tech companies go out of their way to make you feel connected, to make you feel part of their “mission”. In return the get free labour, in terms of you doing their marketing, and loyalty which makes them less likely to get into trouble if they do something bad.

When Google & AWS signs the Project Nimbus agreement, we feel so connected to these companies that protesting against how they run business somehow makes you feel like a hypocrite. Why? You are only a paying customer, or someone forced to use their product by an employer who pays for it, and you have zero influence. We should, and must, protest against the big tech monopolies as they growing ever more powerful and encroaching on more aspects of our existence every day.

We are obligated to resist

We owe these companies nothing, and a failure to use your voice is way worse than being a hypocrite. If you are silent about technology companies involvement in the genocide in occupied Palestine, then you are an enabler and thereby complicit in it. Those who come after us will judge you on the silence, selfishness and cowardice.