BDS calls for boycott of Microsoft and Xbox gaming products over alleged Israeli military connections

Submitted ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨JRepin@lemmy.ml⁩ to ⁨games@lemmy.world⁩

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/bds-calls-for-boycott-of-microsoft-and-xbox-gaming-products-over-alleged-israeli-military-connections

cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/28202261

The international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement are calling on people to cancel Game Pass subscriptions, avoid Microsoft-owned video game properties such as Minecraft and Call Of Duty, and boycott all Microsoft Gaming and Xbox-branded products in protest at the company’s reported business connections with the Israeli military.

The call follows allegations this January about the Israeli military’s usage of Microsoft’s Azure cloud technology and artificial intelligence products in the course of its bombardment and invasion of Gaza.

According to a joint investigation between the Guardian, Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 Magazine and Hebrew-language outlet Local Call, with additional reporting from Drop Site News, Microsoft have “deepened” their relationship with Israel’s defence establishment since 7th October 2023, when several Palestinian militant groups struck across the border and massacred over a thousand people. Israel responded to the attack by mounting a ground offensive and airstrikes that have destroyed much of Gaza and killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

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AmazingAwesomator@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
use linux. that will remove everything microsoft.

i made the change a few years back, and my wife made the change a few months ago. #worth

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- WR5@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Well except for any Xbox peripherals such as controllers, or games published or made by studios owned by Microsoft. It’s not just Windows OS.
  
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  - Toribor@corndog.social ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    These days 8BitDo controllers are superior to first party Xbox controllers and sold for cheaper.
    
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  - umbrella@lemmy.ml ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    with piracy you can boycott games without even stopping yourself from playing them.
    
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  - CosmoNova@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    Glad I‘ve waited for the Switch 2 pro controller to come out. I‘m in need of a new one and Xbox probably would‘ve been my second choice. And yes I‘ve looked into 8bitdio and what not, but they‘re not cheap either and I was happy with my switch pro for 7 years until recently.
    
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- nyamlae@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Well, it’s not so simple for gaming. People who don’t already own a gaming PC will need to drop a lot of money to buy one, and then get used to gaming on Linux (which can be janky, as I’m sure you know).
  
  But, it’s worth it.
  
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  - Elevator7009@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    I game on a former Windows 11 laptop that now runs Linux. I have never owned a “real” gaming PC in my entire life and do not intend to drop any money on one. However, not having enough money to drop on a new laptop to run Linux because you have a more pressing need than gaming to have to still use Windows is still understandable. It’s less than the full-blown fancy gaming PC with its GPUs, but it’s still money.
    
    Not really facing any jank myself thanks to the whole Steam Deck compatibility thing, but I also did have to tinker with one game a bit to make it work. I have had one game demo for a small indie not run so far. Other than that, very smooth experience.
    
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  - AmazingAwesomator@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    gaming on linux is not janky. it is quite nice, and it leaves all of the MS UX nightmares at home.
    
    i agree theat computers can be expensive, and are getting more expensive. if its for gaming, the games will be waaaaaaay cheaper, so one will have to look at the savings in the long run (especially by not having a subscription to use the product)
    
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micka190@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

the Israeli military’s usage of Microsoft’s Azure cloud technology and artificial intelligence products

Genuine question, but doesn’t this just mean that Israel paid for a Microsoft Azure subscription and used it to host web services? Like, anyone can do that. What am I missing here, exactly?

They say Microsoft have “deepened” their relationship, but how did they do that, exactly?

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- amino@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  they answer your question in detail on their own website
  
  www.bdsmovement.net/microsoft
  
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  - XM34@feddit.org ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    So, yeah. It’s pretty much that.
    
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givesomefucks@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Part of why it’s so ridiculous some Americans are legally prohibited from participating in BDS, is people only know if you tell them.

You can just not buy it and never mention why.

And unfortunately, lots of people aren’t even aware it’s illegal:

newsweek.com/pro-palestinian-protest-states-colle…

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- suite403@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  We’re so freeeeee!
  
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- Katana314@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  This whole thing has erupted on my radar in the past month ever since they abducted the girl from Tufts.
  
  HOW does this genocidal state have such an insane stranglehold on our country?
  
  Now I’m getting YouTube ads to demonize Hamas; apparently their effort to “pull people back” and get people sympathetic for October 7 hostages. I AM sympathetic to the hostages!…So why is Israel bombing them??
  
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  - givesomefucks@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    
    HOW does this genocidal state have such an insane stranglehold on our country?
    
    Before AIPAC there was another Israeli organization that donated to politicians.
    
    After years of fighting a committee ruled that it had to register as a foreign agent.
    
    So Israel created AIPAC and then gave Max donations to the people on the committee that decides who has to register as a foreign agent.
    
    Which is why AIPAC has never had to register.
    
    As both parties continually got rid of campaign finance law, AIPAC kept increasing what they gave, and started throwing insane money at anyone critical of Israel in the primary when it’s cheap.
    
    Over decades they’ve bought the only two options and ensured the only two options were peo-Israel over anything else
    
    The worst part …
    
    They’re not the only organization, even foreign country. Doing this to ensure they always win.
    
    Luckily while Ken Martin does have a pro-Israel bias, while running Minnesota he was one of the few state chairs who refused to work against anti-genocide Dems. Which resulted in Minnesota being one of the progressive strongholds despite no one guessing it would shake out that way a decade ago.
    
    So I want to be clear:
    
    The people fucking up the DNC for decades is gone, we need to support the new DNC to keep it out of their hands. The people running the DNC six months ago wants the current DNC to take the fall so they can move back in.
    
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abfarid@startrek.website ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Why is the dpad censored?

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- MrQuallzin@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  That’s just what it looks like now
  
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  - Resol@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    The original Duke, S controller, and Xbox 360 controllers all have similar D-pads. I actually forgot they switched to a traditional one.
    
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  - spooky2092@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    Wow, what MBA thought that was a cool look?
    
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y0kai@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Two steps ahead of you

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brrt@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
You know what would help? Steam releasing a console. Valve, please just do what you did with the Steam Deck and put it in a box, offer 2-3 variations of specs and refresh them every 3-5 years.

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- Nibodhika@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  They can even call them something cool like Steam Machines
  
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  - FoolishAchilles@lemm.ee ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    “Steam engines”
    
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amino@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
a question to parents/guardians of kids playing Minecraft or other Microsoft games:

if they uninstall the Microsoft version of Minecraft and switch to a pirated launcher, does that respect the BDS demands?

I’m aware of similar media boycotts such as SAG/AFTRA telling people not to promote targeted media projects publicly. Ofc, BDS is a different organization but I’m hoping someone could clarify if not promoting Minecraft while still playing is sufficient? I’m not personally invested in continuing to play, but would like to find ways to inspire my young relative to consume consciously.

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- skrlet13@feddit.cl ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  The most important thing in boycotts is not giving them (more) money, and not promoting their goods/services. You can’t get your money back from already bought things, so you can use or buy used stuff from other person.
  
  Regarding Minecraft, the most effective is to avoid all its subscriptions and new purchases. But there are more actions, like not promoting and not playing. It is more about what you can do at the moment. Usually, listening and sharing the bad things done by the company helps you decide what can you do rn.
  
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ThunderWhiskers@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Fuuuuuccckkk

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RymrgandsDaughter@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Bruh name a mainstream Corp that isn’t pro Israel. I don’t even understand why these fuckers are so obsessed with fairies, rocks, and dirt

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