Archiv: Microsoft Corporation (monopolies)


25.09.2025 - 21:45 [ +972 Magazine ]

Microsoft revokes cloud services from Israel’s Unit 8200, following +972 exposé

Microsoft has terminated the Israeli army’s access to technology it was using to store vast troves of intelligence on Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and Gaza, the tech giant informed Israel’s Defense Ministry in a letter late last week, according to the Guardian.

The decision followed an exposé last month by +972 Magazine, Local Call, and the Guardian revealing how Unit 8200, the Israeli army’s elite cyber warfare agency, was housing intercepted recordings of millions of mobile phone calls by Palestinians on Microsoft’s cloud platform, Azure, creating one of the world’s most intrusive collections of surveillance data over a single population group. According to the joint investigation, this data has been used over the past two years to plan lethal airstrikes in Gaza, as well as to arrest Palestinians in the West Bank.

25.09.2025 - 21:21 [ theGuardian.com ]

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

The decision to cut off Unit 8200’s ability to use some of its technology results directly from an investigation published by the Guardian last month. It revealed how Azure was being used to store and process the trove of Palestinian communications in a mass surveillance programme.

In a joint investigation with the Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 Magazine and the Hebrew-language outlet Local Call, the Guardian revealed how Microsoft and Unit 8200 had worked together on a plan to move large volumes of sensitive intelligence material into Azure.

27.08.2025 - 19:46 [ KOMO News / Youtube ]

WATCH: Microsoft President speaks after pro-Palestinian protesters breached office

Streamed live 18 hours ago #komo #komonews #komo4
HAPPENING NOW: Microsoft is holding a press conference after pro-Palestinian protesters breached Microsoft executives‘ building at the Redmond campus.

A group of current and former Microsoft employees staged a sit-in at the company’s headquarters Tuesday, occupying Building 34, which houses the office of Microsoft President Brad Smith and other executives.

The protest is part of an ongoing series of actions by employees and activists criticizing the company’s business ties to Israel.

27.08.2025 - 19:20 [ News18.com ]

Microsoft Temporarily Locks Down Building After Employees Stage Sit-In Over Israeli Military Ties

Microsoft had to temporarily shut down a building at its headquarters after protestors entered inside the office of the company’s president Brad Smith. A few current and former employees of Microsoft organised protests against the company’s connections with the Israel Defense Forces during the Gaza conflict.

09.08.2025 - 17:45 [ +972 Magazine ]

Microsoft storing Israeli intelligence trove used to attack Palestinians

Unit 8200, roughly equivalent in function to the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), has transferred audio files of millions of calls by Palestinians in the occupied territories onto Microsoft’s cloud computing platform, Azure, operationalizing what is likely one of the world’s largest and most intrusive collections of surveillance data over a single population group. This is according to interviews with 11 Microsoft and Israeli intelligence sources in addition to a cache of leaked internal Microsoft documents obtained by the Guardian.

In a meeting at Microsoft’s headquarters in Seattle in late 2021, the then-head of Unit 8200, Yossi Sariel, won the support of the tech giant’s CEO, Satya Nadella, to develop a customized and segregated area within Azure that has facilitated the army’s mass surveillance project. According to the sources, Sariel approached Microsoft because the scope of Israel’s intelligence on millions of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza is so vast that it cannot be stored on military servers alone.

11.07.2025 - 22:37 [ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) / Büro des Hohen Kommissars für Menschenrechte ]

From economy of occupation to economy of genocide – Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese

(June 30, 2025)

In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 investigates the corporate machinery sustaining the Israeli settler-colonial project of displacement and replacement of the Palestinians in the occupied territory. While political leaders and Governments shirk their obligations, far too many corporate entities have profited from the Israeli economy of illegal occupation, apartheid and now genocide. The complicity exposed by the report is just the tip of the iceberg; ending it will not happen without holding the private sector accountable, including# its executives. International law recognizes varying degrees of responsibility – each requiring scrutiny and accountability, particularly in this case, where a people’s self-determination and very existence are at stake. This is a necessary step to end the genocide and dismantle the global system that has allowed it.

02.07.2025 - 03:26 [ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) / Büro des Hohen Kommissars für Menschenrechte ]

From economy of occupation to economy of genocide – Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese

In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 investigates the corporate machinery sustaining the Israeli settler-colonial project of displacement and replacement of the Palestinians in the occupied territory. While political leaders and Governments shirk their obligations, far too many corporate entities have profited from the Israeli economy of illegal occupation, apartheid and now genocide. The complicity exposed by the report is just the tip of the iceberg; ending it will not happen without holding the private sector accountable, including# its executives. International law recognizes varying degrees of responsibility – each requiring scrutiny and accountability, particularly in this case, where a people’s self-determination and very existence are at stake. This is a necessary step to end the genocide and dismantle the global system that has allowed it.

02.07.2025 - 03:14 [ Al Jazeera ]

UN report lists companies complicit in Israel’s ‘genocide’: Who are they?

Are private companies liable under international law?

According to Albanese’s report, yes. Corporate entities are under an obligation to avoid violating human rights through direct action or in their business partnerships.

States have the primary responsibility to ensure that corporate entities respect human rights and must prevent, investigate and punish abuses by private actors. However, corporations must respect human rights even if the state where they operate does not.

A company must therefore assess whether activities or relationships throughout its supply chain risk causing human rights violations or contributing to them, according to the report.

The failure to act in line with international law may result in criminal liability. Individual executives can be held criminally liable, including before international courts.

02.07.2025 - 03:08 [ Al Jazeera ]

‘Israel’s genocide continues because it is lucrative for many’

As we’ve been reporting, UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has named more than 60 companies, including major arms manufacturers and technology firms, in a report alleging their involvement in supporting Israeli settlements and military actions in Gaza, which she called a “genocidal campaign”.

Albanese compiled the report based on more than 200 submissions from states, human rights defenders, companies, and academics.

“While life in Gaza is being obliterated and the West Bank is under escalating assault, this report shows why Israel’s genocide continues: because it is lucrative for many,” Albanese wrote. She accused corporate entities of being “financially bound to Israel’s apartheid and militarism.”

24.05.2025 - 17:49 [ theVerge.com ]

Microsoft blocks emails that contain ‘Palestine’ after employee protests

(May 22, 2025)

Microsoft confirmed to The Verge that it has implemented some form of email changes to reduce “politically focused emails” inside the company.

04.04.2025 - 19:39 [ Anadolu ]

Israel’s AI use in Gaza potentially normalizes civilian killings, obscures blame, exposes Big Tech complicity: Expert

Israel’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) in its ongoing assault on the Gaza Strip – aided by tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon – is fueling concerns over the normalization of mass civilian casualties and raising serious questions about the complicity of these firms in potential war crimes, according to a leading AI expert.

Multiple reports have confirmed that Israel has deployed AI models such as Lavender, Gospel, and Where’s Daddy? to conduct mass surveillance, identify targets, and direct strikes against tens of thousands of individuals in Gaza – often in their own homes – all with minimal human oversight.

07.03.2025 - 11:37 [ Infosecurity Magazine ]

Microsoft’s Quantum Chip Breakthrough Accelerates Threat to Encryption Protocols

(February 21, 2025)

However, the announcement has also underscored the urgency of organizations transitioning to post-quantum cryptography. This is because quantum computers of this scale will be able to rapidly solve mathematical equations that make up current encryption protocols, such as RSA and AES.

Such a scenario will leave data, connections and components used by all organizations exposed.

Malicious actors are also believed to be already stockpiling encrypted data in anticipation of quantum technology to mature, in what are known as ‘harvest now, decrypt later’ attacks.

23.01.2025 - 22:18 [ +972 Magazine ]

Leaked documents expose deep ties between Israeli army and Microsoft

The documents reveal that dozens of units in the Israeli army have purchased services from Microsoft’s cloud computing platform, Azure, in recent months — including units in the air, ground, and naval forces, as well as the elite intelligence squad, Unit 8200. Microsoft has also provided the military with extensive access to OpenAI’s GPT-4 language model, the engine behind ChatGPT, thanks to the close partnership between the two companies.

These revelations are the product of an investigation by +972 Magazine and Local Call in collaboration with The Guardian.

17.11.2024 - 15:55 [ Mint Press ]

Exposed: How Israeli Spies Control Your VPN

(September 11th, 2024)

Kape Technologies is a major player in the online privacy world, one of the three giants that collectively control the market. It owns many of the world’s top VPNs, including ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, ZenMate, Intego Antivirus, and a host of tech websites that promote its products.
(…)
Although it is headquartered in London and employs more than 1,000 people worldwide, Kape Technologies maintains a distinctly Israeli flavor. This begins with its owner, Teddy Sagi. Born in Tel Aviv, the tycoon, who previously spent time in prison for financial crimes, is estimated to be worth $6.4 billion, making him among the top ten richest Israelis.
(…)
Company co-founder and longtime CEO Koby Menachemi began his tech career as a developer for Unit 8200, while Liron Peer, the company’s current head of accounting, also served three years in the controversial military unit. Meanwhile, Menachemi’s successor as Kape CEO, Ido Erlichman, is a veteran of Unit 217, the Duvdevan Unit, an elite commando group that carries out intelligence operations and assassinations against the local Arab population.
(…)
Facebook’s collaboration with Unit 8200 goes far deeper, however. This author’s 2022 MintPress News investigation found that a vast number of Unit 8200 veterans had gone on to work in senior positions at Meta, Facebook’s parent company.
(…)
The same investigation found at least 99 former Unit 8200 agents working at Google. These included Google’s head of strategy and operations, Gavriel Goidel; its head of insights, data and management, Jonathan Cohen; and Google Waze’s head of global self-service, Ori Daniel.

Microsoft, meanwhile, hired at least 166 Unit 8200 veterans to fill its ranks, including many that went straight from the military into the company, suggesting that it is actively recruiting from the regiment.

29.10.2023 - 12:00 [ henrypp.org ]

simplewall

Features

– Simple interface without annoying pop ups
– Rules editor (create your own rules)
– Internal blocklist (block Windows spy / telemetry)

19.08.2023 - 00:20 [ henrypp.org ]

simplewall

Features

– Simple interface without annoying pop ups
– Rules editor (create your own rules)
– Internal blocklist (block Windows spy / telemetry)

19.08.2023 - 00:07 [ DigitalTrends.com ]

How Windows 11 scrapes your data before you’re even connected to the internet

(February 8, 2023)

Using the Wireshark network protocol analyzer, the YouTubers were able to uncover some interesting, yet unsurprising, information about what kind of telemetry was being sent by Windows 11. At boot-up, even before an internet connection was made, they found that Windows 11 was already busy sending information to Microsoft and third-party servers. For example, the information went to software servers (possibly for updates, antivirus refresh, to check for trial versions, etc.) and to marketing/advertising networks.

In stark contrast, the 20-year-old Windows XP 64-bit version barely made a pip, if at all. The only telemetry that was sent was to Microsoft servers to check for OS updates.

19.08.2023 - 00:05 [ CNN ]

Homeland Security report details how teen hackers exploited security weaknesses in some of the world’s biggest companies

(August 10, 2023)

Staffed by senior US cybersecurity officials and executives at major technology firms like Google, the board does not have regulatory authority, but its recommendations could shape legislation in Congress and future directives from federal agencies.

01.07.2023 - 13:06 [ DailyMail.co.uk ]

Revealed: Google and Facebook DID allow NSA access to data and were in talks to set up ‚spying rooms‘ despite denials by Zuckerberg and Page over PRISM project

(8 June 2013)

Meanwhile, Twitter is one company which has managed to keep mum in PRISM discussions.

01.07.2023 - 13:04 [ theGuardian.com ]

NSA Prism program taps in to user data of Apple, Google and others

(7 Jun 2013)

The Guardian has verified the authenticity of the document, a 41-slide PowerPoint presentation – classified as top secret with no distribution to foreign allies – which was apparently used to train intelligence operatives on the capabilities of the program. The document claims „collection directly from the servers“ of major US service providers.

Although the presentation claims the program is run with the assistance of the companies, all those who responded to a Guardian request for comment on Thursday denied knowledge of any such program.

20.04.2023 - 12:38 [ henrypp.org ]

simplewall

Features

– Simple interface without annoying pop ups
– Rules editor (create your own rules)
– Internal blocklist (block Windows spy / telemetry)

12.04.2023 - 15:33 [ Haaretz ]

Spyware From Israeli Firm QuaDream Used to Hack Journalists, Activists Around the World

Israel‘s offensive cyber industry accounts for a wide variety of surveillance and espionage technologies. A number of these are tools sold to policing bodies which reveal the geographic location of a target. There are also more advanced technologies, sold to law enforcement and intelligence bodies, which allow clients to hack into computers, mobile phones and encrypted messaging apps, extracting all information stored on a device and secretly turning on its microphone and camera to create a tool which spies on its owner.

28.03.2023 - 17:51 [ henrypp.org ]

simplewall

Features

– Simple interface without annoying pop ups
– Rules editor (create your own rules)
– Internal blocklist (block Windows spy / telemetry)

04.03.2023 - 14:40 [ henrypp.org ]

simplewall

Features

– Simple interface without annoying pop ups
– Rules editor (create your own rules)
– Internal blocklist (block Windows spy / telemetry)

03.01.2023 - 07:55 [ henrypp.org ]

simplewall

Features

– Simple interface without annoying pop ups
– Rules editor (create your own rules)
– Internal blocklist (block Windows spy / telemetry)

11.09.2022 - 17:57 [ itigic.com ]

So deaktivieren Sie alte TLS-Protokolle in Windows und Browsern

(01.02.2022)

Es gibt Internetprotokolle die vor ein paar Jahren sehr notwendig waren, um navigieren zu können, aber mit der Zeit unsicher und obsolet geworden sind. Dies geschieht mit den Protokollen SSL 3.0, TLS 1.0 und TLS 1.1. Nach und nach haben die meisten Browser sie verworfen, aber einige sind immer noch standardmäßig in aktiviert Windows. In diesem Artikel erklären wir, wie wir sie sowohl in Browsern als auch im System selbst deaktivieren können.

11.09.2022 - 15:44 [ henrypp.org ]

simplewall

Features

– Simple interface without annoying pop ups
– Rules editor (create your own rules)
– Internal blocklist (block Windows spy / telemetry)

10.07.2022 - 22:10 [ Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism ]

Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism – Membership

Founding Members:

YouTube
Twitter
Microsoft
facebook

General Members:

zoom
tumblr
WordPress.com
JustPaste
airbnb
mailchimp
Discord
Instagram
WhatsApp
Pinterest
amazon
Dropbox
MEGA
Linkedin
YouTube
Twitter
Microsoft
facebook

30.06.2022 - 10:29 [ henrypp.org ]

simplewall

Features

– Simple interface without annoying pop ups
– Rules editor (create your own rules)
– Internal blocklist (block Windows spy / telemetry)

06.06.2022 - 19:03 [ answers.microsoft.com ]

Why doesn‘t bing.com support TLS 1.3

Chrome indicates that the connection to bing.com is on TLS 1.2. I‘m wondering why microsoft still uses an old TLS version which doesn‘t encrypt certificates.

20.05.2022 - 15:43 [ AmericaOutLoud.com ]

Biden Handing Over U.S. Sovereignty to WHO

(May 4, 2022)

Please take seriously the severity of this existential threat to everything free people hold dear. Do everything in your power to pass this report on to others and to find ways to communicate with and to influence people to stop empowering WHO to take over our national sovereignty and freedom.

On May 22-28, 2022, ultimate control over America’s healthcare system, and hence its national sovereignty, will be delivered for a vote to the World Health Organization’s governing legislative body, the World Health Assembly (WHA).

This threat is contained in new amendments to WHO’s International Health Regulations, proposed by the Biden administration, that are scheduled as “Provisional agenda item 16.2” at the upcoming conference on May 22-28, 2022.1

These amendments will empower WHO’s Director-General to declare health emergencies or crises in any nation and to do so unilaterally and against the opposition of the target nation. The Director-General will be able to declare these health crises based merely on his personal opinion or consideration that there is a potential or possible threat to other nations.

20.05.2022 - 14:32 [ NorbertHaering.de ]

International Health Regulations: A big step toward a health dictatorship is imminent

(12 May 2022)

A US proposal to amend the International Health Regulations (IHR) is scheduled to be voted on at the May 22-28 World Health Assembly.

The proposal was sent to WHO member countries by the WHO Director General as early as January 20. However, the proposal was only made available to the public on April 12, and in a way that hardly anybody took notice. Mainstream media coverage is virtually nonexistent. I became aware of it through a May 8 report by the independent Austrian news portal tkp.at, which in turn learned of it only through a May 4 report by the portal America Out Loud.

The US proposal is characterized throughout by changes that would empower the WHO to declare health emergencies for countries and regions without involvement or consent of the respective governments, and to dictate countermeasures, even including the deployment of foreign teams of experts.

20.05.2022 - 14:09 [ theParadise.ng ]

WHO Stealth Coup to Dictate Global Health Agenda of Gates, Big Pharma

Doing something with stealth means doing it in a secretive or concealed manner, to prevent it being widely known and possibly opposed. This applies to the proposal given by the Biden Administration to the Geneva WHO in January 18, 2022 according to official WHO documents. The WHO hid the details of the US “amendments” for almost three months, until 12 April, just a month before the relevant body of the WHO meets to approve the radical measures. Moreover, rather than the previous 18 month waiting time to become treaty in international law, only 6 months are used this time. This is a bum’s rush. The US proposal is backed by every EU country and in total 47 countries ensuring almost certain passage.

The proposals, officially titled, “Strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies: Proposal for amendments to the International Health Regulations,” were submitted by Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs (OGA) in the US Department of Health and Human Services, Loyce Pace, as “amendments” to a previously ratified 2005 WHO International Health Regulations treaty. The WHO defines that 2005 treaty thus: “the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) provide an overarching legal framework that defines countries’ rights and obligations in handling public health events and emergencies that have the potential to cross borders. The IHR are an instrument of international law that is legally-binding on 196 countries, including the 194 WHO Member States.”