Google and Meta do not meet the requirements to partner with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, the organisation has said, after the two tech giants ended their official involvement and ditched diversity obligations in the US.
At the 47th annual Mardi Gras parade up Oxford Street next Saturday, a notable absence will be the two tech firms, previously event sponsors.
When Sydney hosted the biannual World Pride global event in 2023, Meta sent a float to the parade. It was a media partner for last year’s Mardi Gras; Google was a supporting partner.
The two companies have this year curtailed their spending on Mardi Gras, Guardian Australia has confirmed, and are not sponsoring the event in any capacity.
Microsoft at least appear to not be giving in as easily, as scummy a company as they are in various ways.
I’m not sure if they perceive that in the long run those that have got on their knees for Trump are going to lose any shred of credibility they may have had, or if this is a sincere belief on the part of Microsoft’s leadership. Probably the former.
But then I’m surprised that Trump hasn’t started attacking “nasty indian” Nadella. I would have thought they would want to ensure Microsoft is just as in line as the others. Or I suppose it’s because Google has YouTube and Search which is valuable for propaganda. MS is business stuff in the main, so it would be the equivalent of attacking IBM which to the public would seem weird.
I just wonder if MS are in line but are just better at not telegraphing it publicly.
Probably because Nadella has a golden parachute. Forcing Microsoft to out them would be fine to Nadella
I wonder if it’s power? Usually people with proper power aren’t in the lime light, because if they are that power is typically short lived (usually by people who start feeling oppressed from it).
If I think of Microsoft having their OS plus their data centre holding OpenAI, many key websites, even OS running on military devices.
I just feel like they can just sit back, and keep raking in the cash.