Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The US vetoed a UNSC resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, arguing it does not condemn Hamas nor grant "Israel" the right to “self-defense.”
Israeli occupation forces issue a new bombing threat against civilian buildings in the Southern Lebanese towns of Borj Qalaouiye and Chehabiyeh.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Extending the snapback mechanism deadline will test how independent Europeans truly are from the US.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Activating the snapback mechanism will nullify the Cairo Agreement, shut the door on cooperation between the IAEA and Tehran, and bar inspections.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: The diplomatic window remains open, but signs of activating the snapback sanctions mechanism on Iran are increasing.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Although the Cairo Agreement meets an important part of European demands, they have begun speaking of new conditions in recent communications.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: European countries show no independence in their stance toward Iran during the talks.
Israeli occupation forces issued bombing threats to bomb civilian buildings in Southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Person behind shooting operation at Allenby Crossing is a Jordanian Army soldier.
Israeli media citing Emergency Services: Both wounded in Allenby shooting operation now dead.

Giant Tech Companies Have Profited in Billions Through US Wars

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 10 Sep 2021 23:15
3 Min Read

Giant tech companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Google made huge profits through contracts with US government agencies that seek to digitize the defense sector.

  • x
  • Report:
    Report: Microsoft benefited from the increase in the number of defense contracts significantly.

Tech giants have made billions in profit through contracts with the US military and other government agencies during the so-called "War on Terror," according to a report released on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

The report "Big Tech Sells War," published last Thursday by 3 American campaigning groups, documented the stipulation of a huge number of government contracts with Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter since 2004.

The report said tech companies' contracts were "primarily with agencies central to the War on Terror."

The report added that "From 2004 to today, Big Tech corporations have seen a huge climb in federal demand for their services, particularly from the Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security."

The US military and intelligence agencies' demand for cloud computing and GPS software has risen since 2001 as the defense sector has grown increasingly digitized.

The US Department of Defense alone has spent about $43.9 billion on contracts for major technology companies since 2004, according to the report, which was issued as a result of a collaboration between the Action Center on Race and the Economy and social justice groups LittleSis and MPower Change.

Related News

Google covertly gave ICE data on pro-Palestine student activist

Tech staff challenge Israeli ties at Amazon, Microsoft, and Google

The report noted that 4 of the top 5 spending agencies on contracts with big tech companies were "central to foreign policy or established as a direct result of the War on Terror."

The report also confirmed that Amazon and Microsoft, in particular, pulled ahead in recent years, with Amazon signing nearly five times and Microsoft signing eight times as many federal contracts and subcontracts in 2019 compared to 2015.

The report stressed that "Microsoft has benefited from the increase in the number of defense contracts significantly under former President Donald Trump, with those signed between 2016 and 2018 increasing sixfold."

Meanwhile, the number of contracts signed with "traditional" military and defense contractors such as aerospace companies Raytheon and Northrop Grumman has declined in recent years.

The report pulled its data from Tech Inquiry, an online tool that allows users to explore US government contracts.

The report stated that the platform includes only contracts in which the information contained in it is allowed to be shared publicly, which means that the numbers received are "very likely an underrepresentation.""

The report also criticized the groups that created the "revolving door" phenomenon between major technology companies and US security agencies, in which government officials who were in high official positions assume key roles in technology companies.

According to the report, officials with top positions include former State Department official Jared Cohen, who is now working for Google, for example, and Steve Bandilidis at Amazon who worked for the FBI, and Joseph de Rosick at Microsoft, who was one of the founders of the Department of Homeland Security.

  • Google
  • US Defense Department
  • Microsoft
  • US Secretary of Homeland Security
  • Amazon

Most Read

Why is Choose Love using a firm with British and US intelligence connections to run a pro-Palestine musical event? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Together for Palestine: Troubling questions about the organisers of this huge event

  • Opinion
  • 17 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025
UKLFI’s latest faux pas, like "Israel’s" recent failed attempt at regime change in Iran, is unambiguously indicative of a flailing entity on the verge of extinction. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

Zionist lawfare operation facing collapse?

  • Opinion
  • 13 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS