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

(www.theguardian.com)
873 points helsinkiandrew | 3 comments | 25 Sep 25 15:06 UTC | HN request time: 0.639s | source
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jajuuka ◴[25 Sep 25 15:38 UTC] No.45374111[source]▶
Wow, they actually are pulling back. That is really surprising. Wonder if they see the winds changing on this issue and want to get on the right side of history. Big props to everyone at Microsoft who spoke out about this and risked or lost their jobs because of it. They kept that fire lit on their ass.
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slantedview ◴[25 Sep 25 15:41 UTC] No.45374160[source]▶
Last week a UN human rights commission found that Israel is carrying out a genocide. I think you're right that the winds have changed and now companies will shift their positions.
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mrits[dead post] ◴[25 Sep 25 15:43 UTC] No.45374208[source]▶
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computerex ◴[25 Sep 25 15:46 UTC] No.45374257[source]▶
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.
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1. Manuel_D ◴[25 Sep 25 23:48 UTC] No.45380807[source]▶
The definition of genocide is absolutely up for debate. And even legal definition (presumably you mean UN definition) is highly subjective, too. Less than 1% of Palestinians have been killed since Oct 7. Germany saw 10% of its population killed in WW2. France lost 4% in WW1. Why the former is a genocide but not the latter two is a pretty big hole in the logic behind the allegations of genocide.
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2. computerex ◴[26 Sep 25 02:20 UTC] No.45381889[source]▶
Any "debate" is for the courts, not a subject of debate for hacker news. People don't debate the definition of murder/rape. Genocide is a legal term.
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3. Manuel_D ◴[26 Sep 25 02:34 UTC] No.45381970[source]▶
What court? Presumably you're taking about the ICJ? It only stated that allegations of genocide is "plausible". The grandparent comment is about a human rights commission, not a court.

Also, the ICJ only has jurisdiction when states consent to its authority. And the UN security council can veto any decision. It's essentially a show court.

And again, people endlessly debate what is and isn't rape and murder. Judges and juries make the decision at the end of the day, and people still debate whether their decision was correct. If anything, drawing parallels to murder and rape only serve to highlight how subjective it is.