Oracle’s TikTok bid under fire for censoring pro-Palestine voices
3 Min Read
Oracle has instructed employees to either support "Israel" or find employment elsewhere.
-
President Donald Trump, from left, speaks while signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House, on Monday, February 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
In a new report, The Intercept sheds light on the complex interplay of geopolitics and corporate power in Silicon Valley.
As Oracle, which has secret partnerships with "Israel", steps into the spotlight in the wake of the US Supreme Court's decision to uphold a law banning TikTok, the company has emerged as a leading candidate to take over the embattled platform.
However, the tech giant's unwavering support for "Israel", particularly in light of the ongoing genocide in Palestine, has raised serious concerns. Questions surrounding Oracle's political allegiances and their impact on global discourse have never been more urgent.
Pro-Palestine voices in Oracle suppressed
The broader campaign to ban TikTok, driven by US political figures critical of China, has gained added momentum from pro-"Israel" activists.
While the push to ban TikTok has been driven largely by US lawmakers critical of China, pro-"Israel" activists have played a key role in amplifying the campaign, exposing the intersection of technology, politics, and global conflicts in Silicon Valley.
The company's pro-"Israel" stance, led by CEO Safra Catz, has led to accusations of suppressing pro-Palestinian voices within Oracle.
According to an investigation by The Intercept, Oracle has faced internal backlash from employees who feel their pro-Palestinian views are being repressed. One employee shared that there is a culture of fear, with some workers leaving the company due to its stance. Last year, 68 employees signed an open letter criticizing Oracle’s partnership with "Israel", and one worker was reportedly fired for creating a pro-Palestinian symbol.
Catz: 'US first, Israel second'
Oracle’s longstanding ties with "Israel" have been pivotal. The company has not only partnered with the Israeli government but also provided technological support to military projects. These collaborations have extended from cloud services to high-profile secretive initiatives like Project Menta, which has worked with the Israeli Air Force. Employees have also expressed concern over Oracle’s involvement in a PR initiative called "Words of Iron" aimed at boosting the Israeli narrative on social media platforms, including TikTok, as per the report.
The company has notably restricted donations to Palestinian causes and banned some charities from its employee donation matching program. Catz, in her statements, referred to pro-Palestinian rights groups as “brainwashing organizations” and dismissed any concerns about Oracle’s involvement with "Israel" during the Gaza conflict. As Yael Har Even, Oracle "Israel’s" deputy CEO, stated, "Safra always says — the U.S. first, the second country is Israel, and after that the whole world."
The pressure on employees to align with Oracle's stance has drawn criticism, highlighting the broader influence of political and military alliances in Silicon Valley's tech giants.
