Technology – War Watch

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Microsoft to tighten human rights measures after inquiry into Israel’s use of its tech
ByHarry Davies and Yuval Abraham June 4, 2026

Announcement seeks to close a difficult chapter for the company after the Guardian revealed its platform was used in mass surveillance of PalestiniansMicrosoft has said it will tighten human-rights controls when working with national security agencies …

Read More Microsoft to tighten human rights measures after inquiry into Israel’s use of its tech
AI (artificial intelligence) | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Computing | Culture | Donald Trump | Film | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Technology | World news

‘The CGI would have cost millions. I spent $2,000.’ Is Dreams of Violets AI slop – or the future of film-making?
ByCath Clarke June 3, 2026

It should have taken years, but Ash Koosha made a drama about Iran’s anti-government protests in weeks – and now it’s the first AI-made movie to screen at a major film festival. It could transform indie film-making, claims the directorNext week a break…

Read More ‘The CGI would have cost millions. I spent $2,000.’ Is Dreams of Violets AI slop – or the future of film-making?
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Censorship | China | Donald Trump | Gaza | Internet | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Technology

The Guardian view on the splinternet: where China led, Iran and others are eagerly following | Editorial
ByEditorial May 31, 2026

Authoritarian states are increasingly shutting off or throttling access to the internet, creating separate spheres in a realm built on connectionChina boasts of having the world’s largest population of internet users: 1.125 billion by the end of 2025, …

Read More The Guardian view on the splinternet: where China led, Iran and others are eagerly following | Editorial
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Censorship | Donald Trump | Freedom of speech | Gaza | Internet | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Technology | World news

‘This isn’t freedom’: anger, anxiety and tears as Iran’s internet flickers back
ByDeepa Parent May 28, 2026

After 88 days of near-total blackout, first reactions to the return of partial connectivity were not celebratoryAfter 88 days of near-total internet blackout in Iran, long-delayed messages, images and poems flooded phones and social media feeds at abou…

Read More ‘This isn’t freedom’: anger, anxiety and tears as Iran’s internet flickers back
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Internet | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Technology | US-Israel war on Iran | World news

Lifting of internet restrictions reveals Iranians’ anger over food inflation
ByPatrick Wintour May 27, 2026

As government begins restoring connection, population voices dismay over food price increases and shortagesThe partial lifting of internet restrictions in Iran has revealed a rising tide of anger about food price inflation as ordinary Iranians decry an…

Read More Lifting of internet restrictions reveals Iranians’ anger over food inflation
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Internet | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Technology | US-Israel war on Iran | World news

Iran’s access to global internet starts to resume after 88-day blackout
ByPatrick Wintour Diplomatic editor May 26, 2026May 26, 2026

End of shutdown comes despite interim court order questioning authority of body overseeing the moveMiddle East crisis – live updatesIran’s access to the global internet slowly restarted on Tuesday, ending a record 88-day blackout that has contributed t…

Read More Iran’s access to global internet starts to resume after 88-day blackout
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Internet | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Strait of Hormuz | Technology | World news

How realistic is threat of Iran charging to use internet cables under strait of Hormuz?
ByAisha Down May 18, 2026

Plan floated in Iranian media to extract revenues from US tech firms would rely on intimidation and is legally dubiousCould undersea cables – the sinews of the global internet – become the next frontier in the US-Israel war against Iran?Last week, two …

Read More How realistic is threat of Iran charging to use internet cables under strait of Hormuz?
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‘It’s like stealing’: Palestinian family’s seized property listed on Booking.com
ByJulian Borger in al-Khader, West Bank May 14, 2026May 14, 2026

West Bank home described as ‘ideal for outdoor gatherings’ is among 41 listed rentals in illegal Israeli settlements Some of Mohammad al-Sbeih’s fondest childhood memories are of his small farm in the hills south of Bethlehem, where three generations o…

Read More ‘It’s like stealing’: Palestinian family’s seized property listed on Booking.com
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Microsoft | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestine | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Surveillance | Technology | US news | West Bank | World news

Head of Microsoft’s Israel branch to step down after inquiry into dealings with Israeli military
ByHarry Davies and Yuval Abraham May 12, 2026

The inquiry came after the Guardian revealed Israel used company technology to support mass surveillance of Palestinian phone callsThe head of Microsoft’s Israeli subsidiary will step down in the wake of an inquiry that has scrutinised its business dea…

Read More Head of Microsoft’s Israel branch to step down after inquiry into dealings with Israeli military
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Digital media | Donald Trump | Feminism | Gaza | Global development | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Lebanon | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Technology | Women's rights and gender equality | World news | YouTube

‘If your wife asks you to change diapers, change your wife’: Lebanon’s hit show parodying the patriarchy
ByAmelia Dhuga in Beirut April 28, 2026

The female-created YouTube sketch series Smatouha Minni (You Heard It From Me) uses satire to confront misogynistic attitudes In Beirut’s Gemmayzeh neighbourhood a rented flat has been transformed into a film set: bright studio lights in a cosy living …

Read More ‘If your wife asks you to change diapers, change your wife’: Lebanon’s hit show parodying the patriarchy