GitHub, acquired by Microsoft in 2018, is the largest software development platform in the world, hosting over 100 million repositories. It has become an essential tool for developers but is also entangled in military and state projects. GitHub’s contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sparked mass employee protests, as its platform was used to build tools for deportation and detention systems. Microsoft leadership ignored internal dissent and renewed the deal, underscoring its prioritisation of state contracts over ethical concerns. GitHub symbolises how Microsoft-owned platforms sustain repression even while branding themselves as community-driven.
Microsoft receives a High Impact rating because it provides vital infrastructure that powers Israeli government surveillance systems, biometric tracking, and military operations in Gaza and the West Bank. Unlike consumer-oriented firms, Microsoft builds the backbone of apartheid architecture through AI, cloud, and software systems deployed by Israeli authorities. The company’s disregard for internal dissent and continued partnership despite evidence of human rights abuses further cements its alignment with occupation policies.