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-Saadi: There were concerns that Lahham would be placed under administrative detention.
Al-Saadi: The Israeli occupation authorities could not prove any allegations leveled against Nasser Lahham.
Lawyer Oussama al-Saadi: The oppressive Israeli measures of delaying Lahham's release had vengeful motives.
Nasser Lahham's lawyer said the journalist was released without any conditions or restrictions, adding that the conditions in which he was kept were terrible.
The Israeli occupation authorities release Al Mayadeen Palestine bureau chief Nasser al-Lahham.
Local Syrian sources: An Israeli airstrike targeted a tank and artillery battalion in the city of Izraa in the Daraa countryside
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in eastern Lebanon: 12 martyrs and 5 wounded in Israeli raids targeting the outskirts of Wadi Fa'ra in the northern Bekaa Valley
Local Syrian sources: More than 10 Israeli raids targeted Sweida, with information about more than five casualties from the Internal Security Forces
Local Syrian sources: Initial reports indicate that approximately 15 people were killed or wounded at the al-Radwan family's guest house in Sweida following a direct exchange of gunfire
Israeli media, citing Israeli political sources, reported that the Shas movement is expected to withdraw from the government within less than 24 hours

Giant Tech Companies Have Profited in Billions Through US Wars

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 11 Sep 2021 00:15
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 defends Chrome browser amid calls for antitrust remedies

Google settles Black employees' racial bias lawsuit for $50 million

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

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows damage after an Iranian attack at the al Udeid Airbase outside of Doha, Qatar, June 25, 2025 (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Satellite images show Iran attack damaged US comms dome in Qatari base

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
An Israeli soldier abandons an excavator during an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades. Arabic text reads "The moment the soldier fled", July, 10, 2025 (Al Qassam Military Media)

Israeli media rue al-Qassam footage, alarmed by fighters among troops

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Syrian government forces deploy at the Mazraa village on the outskirts of city of Sweida, where clashes erupted between Bedouin clans and Druze factions, southern Syria, Monday, July 14, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Gulf-backed negotiations underway in Syria's Sweida to end clashes

UN: 798 Palestinians killed while trying to reach aid in Gaza
Palestine

UN: 798 Palestinians killed while trying to reach aid in Gaza

A damaged car is seen at a field that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Nabi Sheet village, in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley, Wednesday, August 21, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Hezbollah condemns Israeli Bekaa massacre, urges action from Lebanon

Palestinians walk next to the closed humanitarian aid distribution center of UNRWA, the UN agency helping Palestinian refugees in Jabaliya, Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime cuts electricity, water supplies to UNRWA Gaza offices

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