The tech industry is rife with unethical practices and directly complicit (or even enabling) apartheid in Palestine and the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.
I knew this, but I still didn't anticipate how much research I would need to do when choosing platforms for my business needs.
Before signing up for any platform or service, I now make sure to do my due diligence and research the company, the CEO/founder, and who owns it or profits from it. It's a lot more work, and finding alternatives isn't always easy or possible, but sticking to my principles is more important.
It's heartening to see how many people are trying to make the same choices, but I know it's not always easy to find this information. So I compiled this list to help you make informed decisions for your business in line with your values.
Note: I have only included platforms in this list if I was able to find clear and credible proof of one or more of the following:
Israeli owned and/or operating on stolen Palestinian land
Directly participating in the genocide of Palestinians
Founder, owner, or CEO supports the Zionist entity monetarily or ideologically
1. Google
Google provides cloud technology to the Israeli government and military and is directly enabling the genocide in Gaza and the apartheid system in all of Palestine. While it’s not always possible to avoid using all Google products, I use ProtonMail for my business email to avoid paying Google for email services and support an ethical alternative instead.
Alternative:
Proton
2. Wix
Wix is an Israeli company. Need I say more? Boycott them, spread the word, and let them know that it’s not cool to be a colonizer. This one is also easily avoidable as there are many alternatives out there! I personally use Framer and highly recommend it. Related platforms to avoid when possible: Elementor and Figma.
Alternative:
Framer
3. Fiverr
This one is another Israeli company. Fiverr’s model is also problematic to me as a practicing Muslim. As Muslims, we should be paying people properly rather than looking for ways to cut corners or underpay people for their labor. There are many better alternatives, some specific to certain industries, with the most prominent one being Upwork.
Alternative:
Upwork
4. GoDaddy, etc.
When I went to register my domain, I went down a rabbit hole trying to find a domain registrar that doesn’t have ties to Israel or Zionists. I was astonished at how difficult it was to find a platform that was not complicit and also how easy it was to find this information with basic searches. Eventually I came across Porkbun (the name admittedly gave me pause 😅), which appears safe.
Alternative:
Porkbun
5. Monday
Yet another Israeli company, operating on stolen Palestinian land. Many people may not realize this one is Zionist, but luckily there are many many other project management apps and platforms. Some of my personal favorites are Asana, Notion, and Trello.
Alternative:
Asana
6. HoneyBook
Although based in San Francisco, Honeybook was founded by Israelis. It is a popular client management platform, especially for online service providers. There are alternatives, such as Moxie, that you can use instead. You can also try combining different platforms to solve for the same things (e.g. Notion for the client-facing portal).
Alternative:
Moxie
7. Tailor Brands
If you are planning to register an LLC or start a business, you might see ads for Tailor Brands like I did. Thankfully, all it took was a visit to their about page to realize that they are a team of settlers living on stolen Palestinian land. Registering an LLC is fairly simple and shouldn’t require a third-party platform. If you do need help, reach out to a lawyer or other business owners for advice.
Alternative:
DIY it
More Resources
This list is just a start, but there are many other Zionist companies in the tech industry - and many other alternatives. Below are some additional resources to check out and further reading on the importance of boycott, divestment, and sanctions.