RadCap is dedicated to building a solidarity economy and aligning with platforms that oppose systemic oppression and surveillance capitalism. Instead of relying on Big Tech giants like Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), or Microsoft Azure—whose alliances with state surveillance and military contracts are well-documented—we entrust our hosting and storage needs to cooperatives such as MayFirst Movement Technology, NextCloud, and Mautic. Here’s why.
Art by Jovana Mugosa for “Why Big Tech, Cops, and Spies Were Made For One Another” | The Intercept
Big Tech and Surveillance Capitalism
Big Tech companies like Google and Amazon have woven themselves into the infrastructure of state surveillance, military activities, and corporate data extraction. Surveillance capitalism, as defined by author Shoshana Zuboff, is the economic system built on extracting and monetizing personal data. For companies like Google, this model extends to partnerships that enable mass data collection and surveillance at a governmental level, often aiding state control over political activists and marginalized communities.
Project Nimbus: A Case in Point
Google Cloud and AWS’s Project Nimbus—a $1.2 billion contract with the Israeli government—highlights the issue. Under this project, Google and Amazon provide advanced AI and cloud computing capabilities to the Israeli government, purportedly for non-military use. Yet, reports from outlets like The Intercept reveal that the project enables surveillance technologies such as facial recognition and sentiment analysis, which can be weaponized for monitoring and controlling populations under occupation. Despite protests, sit-ins, and worker-led movements like No Tech for Apartheid, these companies continue to pursue contracts that profit from oppression and surveillance.
In alignment with movements such as Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) and principles of data sovereignty, RadCap’s choice to partner and join with cooperatives like MayFirst Movement Technology isn’t just about alternative tech—it’s about resistance. MayFirst is dedicated to creating secure, activist-oriented hosting solutions and supporting global social movements. They offer a stark contrast to Google and Amazon’s willingness to enable state surveillance and data extraction for profit .
Platforms for Data Sovereignty
Our use of open-source tools like NextCloud and Mautic further affirms our commitment to data security and independence. NextCloud provides a decentralized, customizable cloud storage alternative, while Mautic offers open-source marketing automation without proprietary data extraction practices. Here are other notable open-source organizations that are similarly dedicated to anti-surveillance principles:
- LibreOffice: An open-source office suite protecting user privacy.
- Matrix: A decentralized communication protocol promoting secure, encrypted messaging.
- Tor Project: Anonymizes internet browsing to protect against tracking and surveillance.
For an introduction and/or expanding your awareness of Tech and Surveillance, please visit these articles:
We are Google and Amazon workers. We condemn Project Nimbus – The Guardian
By aligning with these organizations, RadCap not only reinforces our values but actively resists the corporate surveillance model that threatens collective freedom. Choosing to support anti-apartheid, cooperative tech infrastructure is a small but powerful act in the fight against digital colonialism and data exploitation.
