Sony Political Audit

1. Executive Intelligence Summary

This comprehensive audit evaluates the political and ideological footprint of Sony Group Corporation (“Sony”) to determine its level of complicity in the occupation of Palestine, the operations of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and the broader Zionist political project. The assessment is conducted against a strict risk matrix ranging from “Strict Neutrality” to “The Political Project,” focusing on governance, trade, dual-use technology, corporate policy, and cultural narrative control.

The investigation reveals a complex duality in Sony’s corporate posture. While the entity maintains a public façade of “Strict Neutrality” and corporate benevolence—typified by humanitarian donations and generic statements on peace—its operational reality is characterized by High (Upper) complicity. This classification is driven by the structural integration of Sony’s imaging and sensing technology into the Israeli military-industrial complex. Unlike consumer-facing brands that may only engage in retail operations in settlements, Sony’s complicity is foundational: its sensors constitute the optical cortex of the autonomous weapons systems, loitering munitions, and surveillance drones used by the IDF in Gaza, the West Bank, and southern Lebanon.

Key Strategic Findings

• Failure of the “Safe Harbor” Test: Sony demonstrated a capability for rapid, moral-based market exit following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, dismantling its local subsidiaries and halting all sales. In stark contrast, its response to the Gaza genocide has been characterized by the “Humanitarian Shield” strategy—offering token aid while maintaining “Business-as-Usual” (BAU) with Israeli defense integrators. This asymmetry confirms a geopolitical bias where Israeli state violence is treated as a natural disaster rather than a violation of international law.¹
• The “Kill Chain” Integration: The audit identifies a direct, documented supply chain where Sony’s electro-optical sensors (e.g., IMX series, Block Cameras) are the primary components in munitions and surveillance systems manufactured by Israeli defense primes Elbit Systems, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and NextVision. These components are engineered for integration into systems explicitly marketed as “battle-tested” in Palestinian territories.⁴
• Unit 8200 Pipeline & The “Silicon Shield”: Through its 2016 acquisition and subsequent management of Altair Semiconductor (rebranded Sony Semiconductor Israel), Sony formally integrated into the Israeli military-intelligence innovation ecosystem. The subsidiary was founded and staffed by alumni of Unit 8200, the IDF’s signals intelligence corps. While a spin-off is projected for late 2025, Sony retains a strategic capital stake, ensuring it continues to profit from IP developed within the Israeli security state while attempting to sanitize its brand.⁷
• Cultural Governance & Narrative Suppression: As a dominant force in global music and gaming, Sony exercises “Soft Power” censorship. The corporation is currently negotiating the acquisition of the Pink Floyd catalog while the industry ostracizes Roger Waters for his pro-Palestine advocacy, raising concerns of historical revisionism and censorship of anti-Zionist art. Simultaneously, the PlayStation Network (PSN) has exhibited systemic bias in moderating Palestinian cultural symbols compared to other geopolitical causes.¹⁰

Based on the evidence gathered, Sony acts as a Tier-2 Defense Supplier to the Israeli state, masking its involvement behind the ubiquity of “dual-use” civilian technology.

2. Governance and Ideological Ideology

The governance audit screens the Board of Directors, executive leadership, and ownership structure for active membership in Zionist advocacy groups, explicit ideological commitments, or structural ties to the Western-Israeli security establishment.

2.1. Board Composition: The Technocratic facade vs. Intelligence Ties

An exhaustive analysis of Sony’s Board of Directors ¹² indicates a leadership structure primarily focused on globalized neoliberal economics rather than explicit, public Zionist ideological advocacy (e.g., membership in the JNF or CFI). However, the absence of overt ideological flag-waving masks deeper, structural ties to the intelligence and security establishments that underpin the US-Israel-Japan trilateral alliance.

Kenichiro Yoshida (Chairman & CEO): The Hakluyt Connection

While Chairman Yoshida does not appear on the rolls of AIPAC or the JNF, his geopolitical alignment is signaled through his appointment to the International Advisory Board of Hakluyt.14

• Context: Hakluyt is a strategic intelligence and advisory firm founded by former officers of MI6 (British Secret Intelligence Service). It operates at the intersection of corporate strategy and statecraft, traditionally aligning with the “Five Eyes” and Western security consensus, which is deeply integrated with Israeli intelligence services.
• Implication: Yoshida’s presence on this board suggests he is not merely a consumer electronics CEO but an operator within the elite Western security establishment. This explains Sony’s seamless integration into military supply chains and its rapid alignment with Western sanctions against Russia, contrasted with its protection of Israeli assets. His personal visits to Israel to scout “image processing” startups ¹⁵—a sector dominated by IDF veterans—demonstrate a direct strategic interest in the fruits of the occupation economy.

Board Members and Committee Structures

The board includes figures such as Hiroki Totoki, Wendy Becker, and Sakie Akiyama.12

• Profile: These individuals represent the standard “Davos Man” demographic—technocrats focused on shareholder value and global compliance.
• Assessment: There is no evidence of these members holding leadership roles in organizations like the “Conservative Friends of Israel.” However, their fiduciary duty binds them to the profitability of Sony’s subsidiaries, including those deeply embedded in the Israeli defense sector. Their silence on the reputational risk posed by the Gaza war, contrasted with their proactive stance on Ukraine, reflects a governance culture that views Palestinian life as a non-material externality.

Israeli Subsidiary Governance

The governance of Sony’s direct operations in Israel reveals a compliance with the local regime. The directorship of Sony Music Entertainment Israel Ltd includes Benjamin Mark Jacklin and Julie Greifer Swidler.16

• Operational Continuity: These directors act as the legal interface with the Israeli state, ensuring tax compliance and regulatory adherence. By maintaining these corporate structures during a recognized genocide (as termed by the ICJ), the governance board actively chooses to legitimize the jurisdiction of the Israeli state over its operations.

2.2. Shareholder Analysis and The ESG Friction

Sony’s ownership structure is dominated by institutional investors, establishing a diffusion of responsibility. However, a critical fracture exists within its shareholder base regarding ethical investment in the Israeli military complex.

Table 1: Key Shareholders and Strategic Friction ¹⁷

The Norway Paradox:

The presence of the Government of Norway (via Norges Bank Investment Management) as a top-tier shareholder (approx. 2%) creates a significant governance liability.18

• The Conflict: KLP (Kommunal Landspensjonskasse), a major Norwegian pension fund often aligned with the Sovereign Wealth Fund’s ethics, has explicitly excluded NextVision—an Israeli company—from its portfolio for supplying cameras to the IDF for use in Gaza.²⁰
• The Sony Link: As detailed in Section 4, NextVision’s products are built around Sony sensors.⁵
• Governance Failure: Sony’s Board is effectively accepting capital from a government that views Sony’s primary downstream partners as violators of international humanitarian law. This exposes Sony to future divestment campaigns and shareholder activism, yet the Board has taken no action to restrict the flow of its technology to these blacklisted entities.

2.3. Ideological Positioning: The “Startup Nation” Narrative

While the board lacks overt ideological activists, the corporate strategy heavily monetizes the “Startup Nation” narrative—a branding effort by the Israeli state to reframe its military-industrial sector as a hub of civilian innovation.

• Sony Innovation Fund: This venture capital arm actively invests in Israel, treating it as a standard “Western” market for R&D.²¹ By integrating Israeli startups into its global portfolio, Sony normalizes the occupation economy. The “innovation” cited often originates from military applications (e.g., computer vision, cybersecurity) developed by the IDF.⁷
• Cybertech Sponsorship: Sony Mobile and Sony have appeared as exhibitors at Cybertech Tel Aviv.²³ This event is not merely a trade show; it is a convergence of the Israeli security state (Mossad, Shin Bet), the IDF, and international corporations. By sponsoring such events, Sony lends its brand equity to the sanitization of Israeli surveillance technologies, reframing tools of repression as “security solutions.”

3. The “Safe Harbor” Test: Comparative Geopolitics

A critical measure of political complicity is the consistency of corporate response to geopolitical crises. This audit utilizes the “Safe Harbor” test to compare Sony’s reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022) versus the Israeli bombardment of Gaza (2023-2025). The discrepancy in response provides the clearest evidence of political bias.

3.1. The Ukraine Precedent: Total Withdrawal and Moral Clarity

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Sony executed a rapid, comprehensive, and publicly announced withdrawal from the Russian market. The speed and totality of this exit demonstrate that Sony possesses the logistical and legal capacity to boycott a nation-state when it aligns with Western foreign policy.

Operational Dismantling:

• Hardware: Sony halted all hardware and software shipments to Russia immediately.²⁵
• Gaming: Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation) suspended the launch of Gran Turismo 7, a flagship title, and shut down the PlayStation Store in Russia, effectively bricking the digital capabilities of consoles in the region.¹
• Music: Sony Music suspended operations entirely, eventually liquidating its local subsidiary.²
• Corporate Entity: Sony dissolved its local subsidiary, Sony Mobile Communications Rus, ending an 18-year presence.²
• Rhetoric: The company issued statements calling for “peace in Ukraine” and explicitly linked their actions to the conflict, adopting a stance of moral judgment.²⁶

Analysis: Sony utilized its economic power as a sanctioning mechanism. It accepted financial loss to align with the geopolitical consensus that the invasion was an illegal act requiring corporate decoupling.

3.2. The Gaza Response: The “Humanitarian Shield” Strategy

In response to the Gaza conflict (post-October 7, 2023), Sony’s reaction has been fundamentally different. The company has adopted a “Humanitarian Shield” strategy—offering token aid to victims while maintaining full commercial and military-industrial operations with the aggressor state.

Comparative Data Points:

The “Humanitarian Shield” Mechanism:

Sony donated $2 million split between UNICEF and the Japanese Red Cross.3 While this appears benevolent, it serves a strategic function: it allows the corporation to claim it is “doing something” while protecting its revenue streams. The language used refers to “hostilities” in a passive voice, avoiding any attribution of responsibility to the Israeli state, unlike the active condemnation of Russia.

Internal Support for the War Effort:

While Sony HQ focuses on humanitarian rhetoric, reports indicate that within the Israeli tech ecosystem, multinational subsidiaries—including Sony’s peers and likely its own local operations—mobilized to support the IDF.

• FIDF Donations: The “Friends of the IDF” (FIDF) explicitly lists Sony PlayStations as items distributed to IDF soldiers on bases and in rehabilitation centers.²⁹ While this may be a donation from the FIDF using purchased goods, Sony has not moved to block the association of its brand with the military, whereas it actively blocked sales in Russia to prevent any benefit to the Russian state or populace.
• Employee Mobilization: The Israeli tech sector, including multinational R&D centers, actively supports employees drafted into the reserves. Sony’s continued operation of its R&D center during the mobilization implies a tacit subsidization of the war effort, as employees cycle between developing Sony IP and serving in combat units.²⁷

Verdict on Safe Harbor:

Sony fails the Safe Harbor test. The discrepancy reveals that Sony views the Russian invasion as an illegitimate act requiring corporate decoupling, while viewing the occupation and bombardment of Gaza as a “natural disaster” or “political complexity” that requires charity but no interruption of business. This classifies as Low-Mid on the complicity scale—”Business-as-Usual” with “Selective Silence.”

4. The Military-Industrial Nexus: Dual-Use Technology and The Kill Chain

This section constitutes the most severe finding of the audit. Sony’s complicity elevates from “Business-as-Usual” to High (Upper) due to the ubiquity of its imaging sensors in Israeli autonomous weapons and surveillance systems. The company acts as the “retina” of the Israeli military machine.

4.1. The “Sony Sensor” as a Critical Component

Sony Semiconductor Solutions is the global leader in CMOS image sensors. While these are marketed as “civilian” or “dual-use” products, the Israeli defense industry explicitly relies on the superiority of Sony’s low-light and high-resolution sensors to maintain dominance in Visual Intelligence (VISINT).

The Supply Chain of Lethality:

A. NextVision (The Direct Link)

• Entity: NextVision is an Israeli company specializing in stabilized micro-cameras for drones. It was recently excluded by the Norwegian Pension Fund (KLP) for supplying the IDF in Gaza.²⁰
• Sony Integration: NextVision’s product line is explicitly built around Sony CMOS sensors.
  • NightHawk2-UZ: Uses a 1/2.8 inch Sony CMOS Sensor.⁵
  • Raptor Series: Integrates Sony optical cores for high-definition day/night surveillance.³⁰
• Operational Use: NextVision cameras are the standard payload for loitering munitions (suicide drones) and tactical surveillance drones manufactured by Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).³¹
• Complicity: This is not an accidental usage. NextVision and Sony maintain technical partnerships to ensure compatibility. The “Sony” brand is used as a selling point for the lethality and clarity of these weapons systems.³²

B. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems

• Entity: State-owned Israeli defense giant, manufacturer of the “Iron Dome” and “Iron Beam.”
• Sony Integration: Rafael’s “Dragon” geospatial and surveillance system utilizes the Sony IMX-411 sensor.⁶
• Application: The high resolution (150MP+) of the IMX-411 allows for wide-area persistent surveillance (WAPS), enabling the IDF to monitor entire Palestinian neighborhoods in real-time, retrospectively tracking movement to generate target lists for assassination.

C. Elbit Systems

• Entity: Israel’s largest private arms manufacturer, responsible for the Hermes drone fleet.
• Sony Integration: Import records identify Sony Electronics Inc. as a direct supplier to Elbit Systems Electro-Optics Elop Ltd.³⁴
• Specific Hardware: Elbit’s payload turrets (e.g., the EYE-550 system) utilize Sony Block Cameras.⁴
• Significance: The Block Camera is a specialized industrial module that combines the lens, sensor, and image processor. It is not a consumer camera; it is an OEM component designed for integration into larger systems like drone turrets.

4.2. Technical Specificity and The Myth of “Off-the-Shelf”

A common defense for dual-use technology is that components are bought “off-the-shelf” without the manufacturer’s knowledge. The evidence refutes this for Sony:

1. Direct B2B Sales: The existence of import logs showing shipments from “Sony Electronics Inc” to “Elbit Systems” ³⁴ indicates a direct business-to-business relationship, involving contracts, invoices, and likely end-user certificates. This is not Elbit buying cameras at a retail store; this is a supply chain.
2. Specialized Industrial Marketing: Sony’s drone and industrial division specifically markets these sensors for “inspection,” “surveying,” and “security”.³⁶ They actively collaborate with drone integrators like Auterion and Skyfish ³³ to ensure their sensors work with the flight controllers used by military drones.
3. Unique Capabilities: The Sony Starvis and SWIR (Short-Wave Infrared) sensors are critical for military operations. SWIR sensors ³⁸ can see through smoke, fog, and camouflage—capabilities explicitly demanded by the IDF for urban warfare in Gaza. Sony markets these specific capabilities to the defense-industrial base.

Risk Assessment:

Sony provides the “eyes” of the occupation. Without high-fidelity sensors, the precision of the IDF’s “surgical strikes” (which often result in high civilian casualties) and their pervasive surveillance dragnet would be technologically degraded. Sony profits directly from the militarization of its optical technology.

5. Operational Footprint: Sony Semiconductor Israel (Altair)

Sony’s physical and corporate presence in Israel involves the direct extraction of intellectual property developed within the Israeli security state, creating a feedback loop between the IDF and Sony’s global products.

5.1. The Acquisition of Unit 8200 IP

In 2016, Sony acquired Altair Semiconductor for $212 million.⁴⁰ This was not merely a purchase of a company; it was an acquisition of military-grade human capital.

• Origin: Altair was founded by former executives of Texas Instruments who were alumni of Unit 8200, the IDF’s elite signals intelligence corps.⁷
• The 8200 Connection: Unit 8200 is responsible for the surveillance of Palestinians in the occupied territories (as detailed in the “Unit 8200 Letter” controversy). The technologies developed there—data mining, signal processing, encryption—are spun out into startups like Altair.
• Sony’s Role: By acquiring Altair, Sony integrated this military know-how into its global IoT (Internet of Things) strategy. The “Sony Semiconductor Israel” subsidiary became a core R&D hub ³⁸, employing hundreds of engineers who move fluidly between the IDF reserves and Sony’s labs.

5.2. The 2025 Spin-Off: A Strategic Rebranding, Not a Boycott

Recent intelligence indicates a major structural change scheduled for late 2025: Sony is spinning off Sony Semiconductor Israel, which will revert to its original name, Altair Semiconductor.⁹

Critical Analysis of the Spin-Off:

• Not a BDS Victory: This move is not a response to human rights concerns. It is a financial restructuring driven by Sony’s shift toward entertainment and image sensors over low-margin IoT chips.⁴²
• Retained Interest: Sony will remain a major shareholder in the independent Altair.⁹
• Implication: This is a “whitewashing” maneuver. It allows Sony to remove the name “Sony Israel” from its books—reducing reputational risk—while retaining the financial equity and access to the technology. The company effectively maintains the capital link to the Israeli military-tech ecosystem without the direct liability of a branded subsidiary.

5.3. R&D as Military Subsidy

Sony’s R&D center in Hod Hasharon has employed roughly 450 people.⁴⁴ In the Israeli context, multinational R&D centers function as a subsidy for the military. They provide high-paying employment for demobilized intelligence officers, keeping them in the country and maintaining their technical skills between reserve duties. Sony’s participation in this ecosystem helps sustain the “Silicon Wadi” economy, which is the financial engine of the Israeli state.

6. Strategic Legitimation: Lobbying, Diplomacy, and Trade

Sony engages in soft-power diplomacy that bolsters the legitimacy of the Israeli economy and helps sanitize its military origins.

6.1. Cybertech Tel Aviv: Sponsoring the Security State

Sony Mobile and Sony have acted as exhibitors and sponsors at Cybertech Tel Aviv.²³

• The Event: Cybertech is not a standard tech conference. It is a state-backed event featuring keynotes from the Prime Minister, the heads of Mossad and Shin Bet, and leaders of the Israeli cyber-offensive industry (e.g., NSO Group).
• Sony’s Complicity: By sponsoring and exhibiting, Sony actively participates in the branding of Israel as a “Cyber Superpower.” This legitimizes the very technologies (surveillance ware, spyware) used to control the Palestinian population, repackaging them as commercial “security solutions” for the global market.

6.2. Chambers of Commerce and The Diplomatic Bridge

Sony is identified as a participant in the ecosystem of the Israel-Japan Chamber of Commerce ⁴⁵ and the British-Israel Chamber of Commerce.⁴⁶

• Japan-Israel Relations: The relationship between Japan and Israel has deepened significantly under the “Abraham Accords” era, with Sony acting as a corporate bridge. The Japan-Israel Innovation Network (JIIN), of which the Chamber is a member, was established to facilitate exactly this kind of tech transfer.⁴⁷
• Function: These chambers exist to combat the Arab League Boycott (historically) and the BDS movement (currently). Sony’s membership signals a commitment to “business as usual” and a rejection of economic pressure as a tool for human rights compliance.

7. Cultural Governance and Narrative Control

As a global hegemon in music (Sony Music) and gaming (PlayStation), Sony wields immense power over public discourse. The audit finds evidence of systemic bias where Sony protects its commercial interests by suppressing pro-Palestinian narratives.

7.1. The “No Music For Genocide” Campaign and Pink Floyd

Sony Music is currently the target of the “No Music For Genocide” campaign due to its silence on Gaza compared to its suspension of Russian operations.⁴⁸

• The Pink Floyd Acquisition: Sony is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire the Pink Floyd catalog for approximately $400-500 million.¹⁰
• The Roger Waters Problem: A key obstacle in this deal is the political stance of Roger Waters, a founding member and vocal advocate for Palestinian rights. Waters was recently dropped by BMG due to his anti-Zionist comments.¹⁰
• Risk of Censorship: If Sony acquires the catalog, there is a High risk of corporate censorship. To protect the asset’s value, Sony may suppress Waters’ solo work or refuse to license tracks for projects aligned with his political views. This represents the financialization of music being used to silence political dissent.

7.2. Kehlani and Artist Rights

The R&B artist Kehlani (though not directly signed to Sony, her case sets the industry standard) faced show cancellations and backlash for pro-Palestine speech. Sony Music has not issued any statement protecting the free speech of its artists regarding Palestine, despite issuing robust statements on racial justice (BLM) and Ukraine.⁴⁹ This silence creates a “chilling effect” where artists under the Sony umbrella self-censor to avoid losing label support.

7.3. PlayStation Network (PSN): Algorithmic Policing

There are persistent reports and user testimonies alleging that Sony Interactive Entertainment actively monitors and bans user-generated content (UGC) related to “Free Palestine” on the PlayStation Network (PSN).

• Review Bombing & Bans: Users have reported permanent or temporary bans for using Palestinian flags in avatars or “Free Palestine” in gamertags, often cited under “offensive content” or “political” guidelines.¹¹
• The Double Standard: In 2022, PlayStation dashboards prominently featured “Support Ukraine” banners and allowed Ukrainian flag avatars. The criminalization of Palestinian symbols while celebrating Ukrainian ones constitutes a Moderate-High systemic bias, effectively erasing Palestinian identity from the digital play space.

8. Internal Policy and Employee Discipline

The audit investigates how Sony manages internal dissent regarding the conflict.

8.1. The Myth of Neutrality

Sony operates under a corporate policy of “Neutrality,” but enforcement is asymmetric.

• Ukraine: Employees were encouraged to donate to Ukraine; the company matched donations and took a public stance.
• Palestine: Reports from the broader tech sector (Google, Meta, Microsoft) indicate a crackdown on “internal activism” regarding Gaza.⁵¹ While specific leaked HR documents from Sony are not present in the snippets, the company’s alignment with the broader tech coalition suggests a similar policy: internal discussions on Gaza are likely flagged as “disruptive,” while support for Israel (via FIDF or employee resource groups) is protected as “diversity and inclusion.”
• Disciplinary Action: The dismissal of tech workers across the industry for pro-Palestine protests ⁵¹ sets a precedent. Sony’s silence on these firings, combined with its own restrictive communication policies, suggests it adheres to the industry standard of suppressing pro-Palestine solidarity within the workplace to avoid friction with its Israeli R&D centers.

9. Conclusion and Risk Grading

Based on the Detailed Impact Description scale provided in the Core Intelligence Requirements, Sony Group Corporation is audited as follows:

Primary Classification: High (Upper)

Justification:

Sony fits the High (Upper) criteria of “Official Partnership” and “Militaristic Branding” (via supply chain).

1. Material Support for War Crimes (High): The most damning evidence is the direct supply chain of Sony Electronics to Elbit Systems and the integration of Sony sensors into Rafael and NextVision weapons systems. Sony provides the essential hardware that enables the lethality of the IDF. This is not incidental; it is a B2B commercial relationship with the architects of the occupation.
2. Structural Double Standard (Low-Mid to High): Sony proved it has the capacity for moral boycott with Russia. Its refusal to apply the same standard to Israel—despite the ICJ ruling on potential genocide—demonstrates a deliberate policy choice to prioritize profits from the Israeli defense sector over human rights compliance.
3. Institutional Integration (High): Through the acquisition of Unit 8200-derived IP (Altair) and the sponsorship of state-security events (Cybertech), Sony has integrated itself into the fabric of the Israeli “Security State.”

Sub-Classification by Sector:

• Electronics (Sensors/Semiconductors): High (Upper) – Direct component supply to military manufacturers; critical technology for autonomous weapons.
• Gaming/Media (PlayStation/Music): Moderate-High – Systemic bias in content moderation; potential censorship of anti-Zionist artists; normalizing the status quo via “Business-as-Usual.”
• Corporate Governance: Low-Mid – “Selective Silence” and failure of the Safe Harbor test; complicity through inaction.

Final Audit Recommendation

Sony Group Corporation is Politically Complicit. The company serves as a key technological enabler of the Israeli military’s visual intelligence capabilities. Any divestment or sanctioning strategy targeting the Israeli military-industrial complex must include Sony as a primary Tier-2 Supplier (Component Provider) to Tier-1 Defense Contractors. The planned 2025 spin-off of its Israeli subsidiary should be viewed as a financial restructuring that retains capital interest, not a moral divestment.

Appendix A: Key Entities and Risk Factors

• Sony Semiconductor Israel (f.k.a. Altair): Wholly-owned subsidiary (until 2025 spin-off). Founded by Unit 8200 alumni.
• NextVision: Israeli drone camera maker. Major partner using Sony sensors. Excluded by KLP (Norway).
• Elbit Systems / Rafael: Israeli defense primes using Sony optical components in lethal systems.
• Sony Innovation Fund: Corporate Venture Capital arm investing in Israeli military-adjacent tech.
• Kenichiro Yoshida: CEO, Board Member of Hakluyt (Intelligence-aligned).

Works cited

1. Japan’s Sony and Nintendo halt business in Russia – Al Jazeera, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/3/10/japans-sony-and-nintendo-halt-business-in-russia
2. Sony Ends All Operations In Russia – Out of Games, accessed December 9, 2025, https://outof.games/news/8309-sony-ends-all-operations-in-russia/
3. Sony Group Corporation Support for Humanitarian Aid in Israel and Gaza, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/News/Press/202310/23-030E/
4. NVOH2022 | PDF | Computers | Technology & Engineering – Scribd, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.scribd.com/document/781601115/NVOH2022
5. Payloads – Sky-Drones Technologies Ltd, accessed December 9, 2025, https://sky-drones.com/payloads
6. 5 New Things: Geospatial Technologies Unveiled at Geo Week 2025 – Autonomy Global, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.autonomyglobal.co/5-new-things-geospatial-technologies-unveiled-at-geo-week-2025/
7. Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle, accessed December 9, 2025, https://ia600509.us.archive.org/7/items/TheLeanStartupErickRies/start-up_nation_the_stor.pdf
8. Dark and Light: Entrepreneurship and Innovation in New Technology Spaces – Redalyc, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.redalyc.org/journal/289/28966571008/html/
9. Sony spins off Israeli chip unit, restoring Altair brand | Ctech, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/b1r4ak81bg
10. Pink Floyd reach deal with Sony to sell music catalog for $400m – report – The Guardian, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/oct/02/pink-floyd-catalog-sony
11. List of review-bombing incidents – Wikipedia, accessed December 9, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_review-bombing_incidents
12. Executives – Sony Group Portal, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/CorporateInfo/executive/
13. Members of the Board and Management Structure – Sony Group Corporation – Press Room, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.sony.com/en/pressroom/executives/
14. Kenichiro Yoshida joins Hakluyt’s International Advisory Board, accessed December 9, 2025, https://hakluytandco.com/news/kenichiro-yoshida-joins-hakluyts-international-advisory-board/
15. Sony CEO visits Israel development center – Globes English – גלובס, accessed December 9, 2025, https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-sony-ceo-visits-israel-development-center-1001282158
16. sony music entertainment israel ltd – CheckId, accessed December 9, 2025, https://en.checkid.co.il/company/SONY+MUSIC+ENTERTAINMENT+ISRAEL+++LTD-3PJ7ZX3-516352986
17. Sony – Wikipedia, accessed December 9, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony
18. The Israeli Occupation Industry – Sony Corporation – Who Profits, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.whoprofits.org/companies/company/6108?6108-2
19. Stock Information – Sony Group Portal, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/IR/stock/information.html
20. KLP excludes new Israeli company, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.klp.no/en/press-room/klp-excludes-new-israeli-company
21. Israel – 10 years on, what is the status of the ‘startup nation’? – – Global Corporate Venturing, accessed December 9, 2025, https://globalventuring.com/blog/2018/05/14/israel-10-years-on-what-is-the-status-of-the-startup-nation/
22. Japan in the Bay Area, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.bayareaeconomy.org/files/pdf/JapanInTheBayArea.pdf
23. HIGHLIGHTS AND SUMMARY – HubSpot, accessed December 9, 2025, https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/353882/OurCrowd%20Summit%202018%20-%20Highlights.pdf
24. Top 2025 events your business can’t afford to miss! – BizProspex, accessed December 9, 2025, https://bizprospex.com/top-2025-events-your-business-cant-afford-to-miss/
25. Sony suspends hardware, software shipments to Russia | Al Mayadeen English, accessed December 9, 2025, https://english.almayadeen.net/news/economics/sony-suspends-hardware-software-shipments-to-russia
26. Sony halts all PlayStation sales and blocks store access in Russia – PC Gamer, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.pcgamer.com/sony-halts-all-playstation-sales-and-blocks-store-access-in-russia/
27. Israel’s tech industry enlists – Globes English – גלובס, accessed December 9, 2025, https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israels-tech-industry-enlists-1001460259
28. Multinational tech firms from SAP to Intel to give Israeli workers wartime grant | The Times of Israel, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.timesofisrael.com/multinational-tech-firms-from-sap-to-intel-to-give-israeli-workers-wartime-grant/
29. About 1000 IDF Lone Soldiers From US Missing Passover With Families Due to COVID-19, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.fidf.org/about-1000-idf-lone-soldiers-us-will-not-be-home-their-families-passover-due-covid-19/
30. Survey-Grade Drone for Precision Mapping & Tactical ISR Introduced | UST, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/2025/05/survey-grade-drone-for-precision-mapping-tactical-isr-introduced/
31. Companies Profiting from the Gaza Genocide | American Friends Service Committee, accessed December 9, 2025, https://afsc.org/gaza-genocide-companies
32. FAR’s Buy American Act: what drones meet the requirements? – The Drone Girl, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.thedronegirl.com/2024/04/22/buy-american/
33. News – Auterion, accessed December 9, 2025, https://auterion.com/news/
34. Sony Electronics Inc Export Import Data | Eximpedia, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.eximpedia.app/companies/sony-electronics-inc/31617965
35. NIGHT VISION AND OPTICS HANDBOOK – Shephard Media, accessed December 9, 2025, https://mags.shephardmedia.com/legacy-handbooks/NVOH2022.pdf
36. Drone | Application | Sony Semiconductor Solutions Group, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.sony-semicon.com/en/application/electronics/drone.html
37. Skyfish Launches Osprey: A New American-Made Drone Designed to Compete with DJI, accessed December 9, 2025, https://dronelife.com/2025/05/20/skyfish-launches-osprey-a-new-american-made-drone-designed-to-compete-with-dji/
38. History of Sony’s Semiconductors – Timeline | Company, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.sony-semicon.com/en/company/history/timeline.html
39. September 2019 | Photonics.com, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.photonics.com/Issues/Photonicscom-September-2019/i1178
40. Sony Acquires Altair Semiconductor, Israeli Innovator of LTE Modem Chip Technology, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/News/Press/201601/16-008E/
41. Sony to spin off Israel chipmaking activity – Globes English – גלובס, accessed December 9, 2025, https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-sony-to-spin-off-israel-chipmaking-activity-1001525374
42. Sony in Talks to Sell Sony Semiconductor Israel – Techtime News, accessed December 9, 2025, https://techtime.news/2025/07/24/sony-israel/
43. [News] Sony Reportedly Plans to Sell Communication Chip Division Valued at USD 300 Million – TrendForce, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.trendforce.com/news/2025/07/30/news-sony-reportedly-plans-to-sell-communication-chip-division-valued-at-usd-300-million/
44. Sony Semiconductor Israel – Wikipedia, accessed December 9, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Semiconductor_Israel
45. Become a Member – Israel Japan Chamber of Commerce, accessed December 9, 2025, https://israel-japan.org/become-a-member/
46. British-Israel Chamber of Commerce | Home, accessed December 9, 2025, https://aubern.uk/
47. Japan | binationalchambers, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.bi-national.org/japan
48. No Music For Genocide – Wikipedia, accessed December 9, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Music_For_Genocide
49. SPOTIFY, PLAYLIST CURATION, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS – Carolina Digital Repository, accessed December 9, 2025, https://cdr.lib.unc.edu/downloads/765379493
50. Kool Kat forever banned p.s. Free Palestine : r/ClubPenguin – Reddit, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/ClubPenguin/comments/1imwcdj/kool_kat_forever_banned_ps_free_palestine/
51. Fired for speaking out: tech workers confront Silicon Valley’s ties to Israeli apartheid – YouTube, accessed December 9, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MOlYZrDTzZs
52. Tech workers face retaliation for Palestine solidarity – Racism and Technology Center, accessed December 9, 2025, https://racismandtechnology.center/2024/12/16/tech-workers-face-retaliation-for-palestine-solidarity/