GIS software company ESRI is shutting down internal conversations about whether or not their products are being used by the Israel Defense Forces - from an employee
EDITORIAL NOTE: Further reason to use FOSS4G? This report is uncorroborated, but seems to square with Environmental Systems Research Institute Inc's policies.
Throwaway account--trying to post in a few subs because I think this is important.
For those who don't know, ESRI creates Geographic Information Systems software. This software is used for making maps and spatial analysis, among other things. If you work in GIS, or use maps, you've probably used this software. Now for the important part.
On Monday, December 11, 2023, an employee posted in the HR Teams channel to ask the question: "Is the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) using ArcGIS to help with the current bombings in Gaza?" The employee went on to explain that they had reached out to HR with this question and was told that "the specific information you are requesting is not going to be supplied to you. We would need permission from a distributor or customer to provide specific information about products sold or used and we don't have said permission."
The employee went on to explain that they thought it was important for ESRI employees to know this information. The employee also inquired if others were concerned and wanted answers. The employee also pointed out that ESRI had taken a political stand previously with regard to Ukraine and Russia and provided a screenshot of an official ESRI statement that said: "Esri stands in solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Our software is not and will not be deployed in any military or intel organization in Russia. Esri distributor CIS is curtailing sales in Russia. We are actively supporting the humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, and we continue to work with many European countries, as well as NATO, the United Nations, and the US State Department. Esri will do everything we can to help Ukraine and its people."
The post garnered a lot of attention and support from other employees. Several responded that they were concerned that ESRI is providing software for a genocide. The specific word "genocide" was used a few times. There was one dissenting comment.
On Wednesday, December 20, 2023, another employee commented on the thread to say that the original poster had resigned on Friday, December 15, 2023, due to "lack of answers from the administration."
Later that day, an email was sent out about a new policy with regard to the digital environment and appropriate business conduct.
Today, December 21, 2023, the entire thread and all of the responses were deleted, presumably by HR, since they manage the channel. An HR team member replied and said that "there were many posts involving sensitive topics and comments that were not appropriate for a business setting. I have received numerous inquiries and employees stating that they feel uncomfortable with the messaging and tone in these posts." Meanwhile, a separate post in the same channel, made on October 15, 2023, titled "Condemning the terrorist attacks in Israel" stayed up. It would seem that ESRI is not concerned with the discomfort of their Palestinian employees.
I am an ESRI employee and I am furious. ESRI talks about their commitment to making the world a better place while shutting down conversations by their employees about genocide. I don't think it's a secret that ESRI operates this way, but I wanted to share what's happening on the inside. Many of us are angry and we won't be silenced.
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#military #militarytechnology #QGIS #GRASSGIS #IDF #IOF
