Human testing: Militarised technology across Southwest Asia and North Africa

In short

This episode of The Tech Pill features Maryanne Rame from SMEX discussing a new report on the militarization of technology in the SWANA region. The report identifies five key patterns: Israel as a developer and exporter of militarized tech, GCC countries transitioning from consumers to producers, Egypt's focus on information dominance, Syria's use of dual-use technology, and Sudan's intensification of tech militarization during conflict. The discussion highlights the blurring lines between civilian and military tech, the critical role of data, and the challenges in accountability and transparency.

Key takeaways

• The militarization of technology in the SWANA region is a complex issue involving not just hardware but also data collection, processing, and its use against populations.
• Israel is identified as a major developer and exporter of militarized surveillance and AI systems, utilizing the Palestinian territories as a testing ground.
• GCC countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia are shifting from being mere consumers to active producers of militarized technology.
• The concept of 'dual-use' technology is presented as a dangerous fiction, as technology supplied for civilian purposes is often weaponized by authoritarian regimes.
• The report examines five distinct patterns of tech militarization across the SWANA region, underscoring the widespread and evolving nature of this phenomenon.

Chapters

1. 00:00

   Introduction to The Tech Pill

   Gus Hussein and Kaitlin introduce 'The Tech Pill' podcast, focusing on how technology reshapes lives and how governments and companies use tech to increase power. Gus is the Executive Director at Privacy International, and Kaitlin is the Campaigns Coordinator.

2. 00:40

   Defining 'Fortnightly' and Guest Introduction

   The hosts discuss the ambiguity of the term 'fortnightly' and introduce their guest, Maryanne Rame, a Senior Coalitions and Research Lead at SMEX. Maryanne is key to a new report on the militarization of technology in the SWANA region.

3. 01:55

   SMEX and the SWANA Region

   Maryanne explains SMEX's work in digital rights in the SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) region, highlighting their long-standing partnership with Privacy International. The report focuses on the militarization of technology.

4. 03:00

   The Report's Focus: Militarization of Tech

   Maryanne details the report's scope, covering the building, testing, and deployment of militarized technology in the SWANA region. The key takeaway is that it's not just about hardware, but also data collection, processing, and its use against people.

5. 04:30

   The Israel Pattern: Developer and Exporter of Militarized Tech

   The report identifies five patterns of tech militarization, with Israel being the most comprehensive. Israel is a principal developer and exporter of militarized surveillance and AI systems, using the occupation of Palestine as a testing ground.

6. 06:00

   The GCC Pattern: From Consumers to Producers

   The second pattern involves Gulf Cooperation Council countries, specifically the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Historically consumers of militarized tech, they are now moving into production, investing heavily in AI infrastructure and drone manufacturing.

7. 07:30

   The Egypt Pattern: Information Dominance

   Egypt exemplifies the 'information dominance' pattern, focusing on constructing surveillance architectures to monitor citizens and control national communication infrastructure, often using packet inspection technology.

8. 09:00

   The Syria Pattern: Dual-Use Technology and Its Dangers

   Syria highlights the dangers of 'dual-use' technology. Western companies have supplied monitoring tech to the Assad regime, which has been weaponized against the Syrian population, demonstrating how the dual-use concept is a dangerous fiction.

9. 10:30

   The Sudan Pattern: Tech Militarization During Conflict

   Sudan's case illustrates how tech militarization intensifies during active armed conflict. The report examines how state capacity is fragmented, and how tech is used by various actors, including external ones, to influence the conflict.

10. 11:30

    The Lebanon Pattern: Infrastructure Vulnerability

    Lebanon's situation showcases the vulnerability of civilian communication infrastructure. The report looks at how this infrastructure can be compromised and used for surveillance and control, especially in contexts of political instability.

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